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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 






Shelf ...5* 



UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 



OKKICK OK 



U. S. Local Inspectors of Steam-Vessels, 

New York City, Sept 2, 1890. 



Captain HOWARD PATTERSON, 

New York City, N. Y., 

Sir : — I would state in reference to your book 
entitled " Yachting Under American Statute," which 
you haA^e submitted to me for criticism, that in my 
opinion it justifies all you claim for it, or even 
more, in the preface of the work. I must commend 
it for its thoroughness as well as for the excellent 
arrangement of its paragraphs, and the descriptive 
headings with which each article is supplied. 

Furnished with this legal rudder, yachtsmen 
will have a handy and authoritative reference book 
for all questions concerning the proper and lawful 
transaction of the yacht's business. 

Yours truly, 
SAMUEL G. FAIRCHILD, 

U. S. Local Inspector of Hulls, 

New York, N. Y. 



yachting 
Under American Statute. 



UNITED STATES LAWS AND TREASURY INSTRUCTIONS 

FOR THE GUIDANCE OF OWNERS AND OFFICERS OF AMERICAN YACHTS, 

AND OF FOREIGN BUILT YACHTS OWNED BY CITIZENS OF THE 

UNITED STATES ; ALSO OF FOREIGN YACHTS 

CRUISING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS 

PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISING INSPECTORS OF STEAM 
VESSELS. INFORMATION FOR OWNERS OF BOTH AMERICAN STEAM 
AND SAILING YACHTS WHO MAY DESIRE TO OBTAIN CERTIFI- 
CATES ENTITLING THEM TO LEGAL COMMAND. 



DIRECTIONS FOR SEAMEN AND ENGINEERS 

IN QUEST OF LICENSES FROM THE UNITED STATES LOCAL STEAMBOAT 

INSPECTORS. CONCERNING MASTERS' AND MATES' DIPLOMAS AS 

ISSUED BY THE AMERICAN SHIPMASTERS' ASSOCIATION 

FOR FORE AND AFT SAILING VESSELS. 



TOGETHER WITH OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR 
YACHTSMEN. 

fi lr / /> COPYK- 

G* BY / 

Captain HOWARD PATTEKSON, 

Formerly Principal New York Navigation School, 

AUTHOR OF "THE COMMON-SENSE NAVIGATOR," "THE YACHTSMAN'S GUIDE," "HAND- 
BOOK TO THE U. S. LOCAL MARINE BOARD EXAMINATION," ETC. 



NEW YORK : 

JOHN BLISS & CO., 

128 Front Street. 



\ . 






Copyright, 1890, by 
JOHN BLISS & CO; 



PREFACE 



The author presents to the yachting fraternity a com- 
plete series of the laws under which all pleasure vessels are 
governed. Owners, masters, mates, pilots, and engineers 
of yachts will find this book to be a handy reference and 
an authority on all legal questions which may arise in con- 
nection with yachting, whether they relate to the docu- 
menting of the vessel, the privileges and liabilities involved, 
or the licensing and duties and obligations of officers. 
Many confusing laws relating to pleasure vessels have had 
their wrinkles smoothed out, and the much-vexed question 
concerning the right to fly the United States flag, or yacht 
ensign, on foreign-built yachts owned by American citizens, 
the author believes he has satisfactorily disposed of from a 
legal standpoint, basing an affirmative opinion upon the only 
possible interpretation of the State and Treasury Depart- 
ment Decisions, the text of which will be found incor- 
porated in full under the proper heading. H. P. 

September 1, 1890. 



CONTENTS 



INSPECTION OF STEAM- YACHTS. 

PAGE 

What vessels are deemed steam-vessels 13 

Steam-yachts to be inspected 13 

Inspection of hulls 13 

Inspection of boilers 14 

Certificate of inspection , . , 14 

Reinspection and notice for repairs 14 

Failure to make repairs 15 

Interference between inspectors 15 

Annual inspection upon written application 16 

Only Government steamers exempt from inspectioD 16 

Inspections previous to expiration of certificate 16 

Inspectors may bore the hull 16 

Owners to notify inspectors when vessel is docked 16 

Local inspectors' signatures on certificates 17 

Powers of supervising inspector 17 

Certificates of inspection issued for one year 17 

Carrying an excess of steam . ,. 17 

Act abolishing all charges and fees 18 

United States officers guilty of extortion 18 

Inspectors receiving illegal fees 19 

Steam-vessels exempt from Federal authority 19 

Steam-launches may dispense with a life-boat 19 

A life-preserver required for each person 20 

Life-boats, rafts, pumps, etc 20 

Penalty for failure to provide life-boats, etc 20 

Inspection of foreign steam-yacht 20 

CONCERNING LICENSED OFFICERS. 

Penalty for officers acting without a license 21 

Original license and renewal 21 

Oath of licensed officers 22 

Licenses to be exhibited 22 

License of master 22 



8 



PAGE 

Steam yachts do not require a licensed master 23 

License of chief mate .......... 23 

Steam -yachts do not require a licensed mate 23 

Masters' and mates' licenses may include pilotage 24 

Separate licenses not required 24 

License of engineer 24 

Assistant engineers may act as chief 25 

Duty of chief engineer 25 

Engineers must be able to read and write 25 

Steam-launches must carry a licensed engineer 26 

Licensed engineer not required for naphtha launch 26 

Naphtha fuel steam-vessels must carry a licensed engineer 26 

License of pilot . . •. . 26 

Color-blind examination for pilots ...» 26 

Pilots must be able to read and write 27 

Steam-yachts requiring first-class pilots. . . ; , . 27 

Steam-yachts requiring second-class pilots 28 

Steam-launches must carry a licensed pilot. . . 28 

, Licensed pilot not required for naphtha launches . . 28 

Naphtha fuel steam-vessels must carry a licensed pilot 28 

Raising the grade of pilot or engineer 28 

Rules governing pilots 28 

Presenting license for renewal 28 

Licensed officer refusing duty . . 29 

Revocation of license 29 

Duration of a suspended license 29 

Licensed officers to assist inspectors. 30 

Licensed officers must report accidents , 30 

Misconduct of officers and others 30 

Maltreatment of crew. 31 

Investigation of conduct of officers . . 31 

Payment of witnesses 31 

Appeal to supervising inspector 32 

American Shipmasters' diplomas for masters and mates 32 

UNITED STATES STATUTES AND TREASURY DECISIONS. 

Yacht licenses 34 

License benefits 34 

Concerning pleasure vessels under five tons burden. 35 

Entering a vessel and manifest 35 

Enrolment of a yacht . , , 35 

Securing license and enrolment for a steam -yacht 36 

Liability of pleasure vessels navigated without a license 36 



9 



PAGE 

Vessel absent from home port renewing license 36 

Surrender of license . 36 

Loss of license 36 

License expiring while vessel is abroad 36 

Commission to sail for pleasure 37 

Shipping articles for crew 37 

Billof health 37 

Foreign yacht arriving from abroad must enter 37 

Courtesies shown to foreign yachts 37 

Foreign yacht wrecked in United States waters 38 

Prescribed American yacht signal , 38 

Sailing yachts to exhibit name 38 

Steam-yachts to exhibit name. . ....'.■ 38 

Enforcement of Section 4495 39 

Penalty for omission of duty by customs officer 39 

License, enrolment, etc., denied for non-compliance with the law. . 39 

Vessel liable to seizure for non- compliance with the law. 39 

Penalty in cases not provided for 40 

Custom House measurement 40 

Tonnage mark 40 

Official number 41 

Signal letters 41 

Officers of United States vessels must be American citizens 41 

Penalty for omission to show lights 41 

Pilotage pn boundaries between States. 42 

No discrimination in rates of pilotage 42 

State regulations of pilots 42 

Change of vessel's name 43 

When a vessel must be newly documented 43 

Penalty for deception concerning vessel's character, etc 43 

Compulsory pilotage for American yachts 43 

Compulsory pilotage for foreign-built yachts 44 

Foreign-built yachts owned by American citizens 44 

Foreign-built yachts flying American flag 46 

Author's opinion about flying the American flag on foreign yachts. . 47 

LAWS FOR OCEAN NAVIGATION. 

HIGH SEAS AND COAST WATEBS. 

Defining steam and sail-vessels .... 48 

Lights carried from sunset to sunrise 48 

Lights for ocean steamers 48 

Lights for towing-steamers 49 

Lights for sailing-vessels. ... 49 



10 

PAGE 

Exceptional lights for small vessels 50 

Lights for steam-vessels and sailing-vessels at anchor ... 50 

Lights for vessels not under command 50 

Lights for vessels being overtaken 51 

Ocean sound signals for fog 51 

Speed of ships to be moderate in fog. 52 

Steering and sailing rules for sailing-vessels 52 

Steam-vessels meeting. 52 

Two steamers crossing 53 

Steamships to keep out of way of sailing-vessels . . 53 

Steam-vessel approaching another vessel 53 

Signals of steamers showing course . 54 

Vessel overtaking another 54 

Steamer in narrow channel 54 

Eight of way , 54 

Special circumstances and dangers 54 

No ship under any circumstances to neglect proper precautions. . . 55 

Distress signals 55 



PILOT RULES FOR LAKES AND SEA BOARD— INLAND WATERS. 

Lights for inland waters 56 

Signalling course by the steam-whistle 56 

Misunderstood signals 57 

Sound signals for fog on inland waters 57 

Steamer nearing a bend 57 

Pilots must signal one another 58 

Pilot rules for Hell Gate. 58 

Pilot signalling steamer holding same course 59 

Modification of pilot rules 59 

Dividing line between lakes and seaboard and Western rivers. . 59 



PILOT RULES FOR WESTERN WATERS. 

Lights for Western rivers 60 

Descending steamer has right of way. 61 

Danger signals 61 

Ascending boat to be stopped below channel 62 

Steamers nearing bend in ascending or descending 62 

Fog signals for Western rivers 63 

Signals to steamer ahead 63 

Steamers leaving berth . 63 



11 



PAGE 

NEW RULES FOR THE NAVIGATION OF THE HIGH SEAS. 

An act to adopt regulations for preventing collisions at sea. . . 64 

Preliminary. ..... 64 

Lights to be exhibited from sunset to sunrise 65 

Steamer's masthead light 65 

Steamer's side lights 65 

An additional white light may be carried by steamers -when under way. 66 

Steamer's towing lights 66 

Lights for vessels not under command 67 

Vessels laying telegraph cables 67 

When to carry side-lights 68 

Lights for sailing-vessels under way and vessels being towed 68 

Portable lights for small vessels under way 68 

Lights prescribed respectively for all vessels under forty tons 69 

Lights for pilot-vessels 70 

Lights for fishing vessels 70 

Lights for vessels fishing with drift nets 70 

Lights for vessels engaged in trawling 71 

Lights for fishing vessels under seven tons 72 

Lights for vessel and boats when line-fishing, etc 72 

Fog signals for fishing vessels 72 

Light for vessel being overtaken 73 

Lights for vessels at anchor 73 

Methods to be employed for attracting attention 74 

Special lights for squadrons and convoys, and private night signals. 74 

Day-time signal for steam-vessel under sail only 74 

Fog signals for vessels under way 75 

Fog signals for vessels at anchor 75 

Fog signals for vessels towing and being towed 76 

Other fog signals, etc 76 

Speed of vessels to be moderate in fog 77 

Steering and sailing rules for sailing vessels 77 

Two steam-vessels meeting end on 78 

Two steam-vessels crossing , 78 

Steam-vessel and sailing-vessel meeting 78 

One vessel to keep out of the way 79 

One vessel to avoid crossing another's bow 79 

Steam- vessels to slacken speed if necessary, etc 79 

Vessel overtaking another 79 

Steam-vessels in narrow channels to keep to starboard 80 

Sailing-vessels to keep out of the way of fishing boats, etc 80 

Special circumstances rendering departure from rules necessary ... 80 

Sound signals for vessels in sight of one another 80 



12 



PAGE 

No vessel, tinder any circumstances, to neglect proper precautions. 81 
Rules made by local authority to govern the navigation of harbors 

and inland waters 81 

Distress signals • 81 

Conflicting laws repealed 82 

Date upon which act is to take effect 82 

LAW IN REGARD TO COLLISION AT SEA. 

Each vessel shall stand by 83 



YACHTING 
UNDER AMERICAN STATUTE 



INSPECTION OF STEAM YACHTS. 

WHAT VESSELS ARE DEEMED STEAM-VESSELS. 

Sec. 4399. Every vessel propelled in whole or in pait 
by steam shall he deemed a steam- vessel within the mean- 
ing of this Title. 

STEAM-YACHTS TO BE INSPECTED. 

Sec. 4426. The hull and boilers of every ferry-boat, 
canal-boat, yacht, or other small craft of like character, 
propelled by steam, shall be inspected under the provisions 
of this Title. Such other provisions of law for the better 
security of life as may be applicable to such veesels, shall, 
by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors, 
also be required to be complied w T ith before a certificate of 
inspection shall be granted ; and no such vessel shall be 
navigated without a licensed engineer and a licensed pilot. 

INSPECTION OF HULLS. 

Sec 4417. The local inspectors shall, once in every year, 
at least, upon application in writing of the master or owner, 
carefully inspect the hull of each steam-vessel within their 
respective districts, and shall satisfy themselves that every 
such vessel so submitted to their inspection is of a structure 
suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, 
has suitable accommodations for passengers and the crew, 



14 

and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be 
used in navigations as a steamer, with safety to life, and 
that all the requirements of law in regard to fires, boats, 
pumps, hose, life-preservers, floats, anchors, cables, and 
other things, are faithfully complied with ; and if they 
deem it expedient, they may direct the vessel to be put in 
motion, and may adopt any other suitable means to test her 
sufficiency and that of her equipment. 

INSPECTION OF BOILEES. 

Sec. 4418. The local inspectors shall also inspect the 
boilers of all steam-vessels before the same shall be used, 
and once at least in every year thereafter. They shall sub- 
ject all boilers to the hydrostatic pressure ; and shall satisfy 
themselves by thorough examination that the boilers are 
well made, of good and suitable material, etc., etc. 

CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION. 

Sec. 4421. When the inspection of a steam-vessel is 
completed and the inspectors approve the vessel and her 
equipment throughout, they shall make and subscribe a 
certificate to the collector or other chief officer of the cus- 
toms of the district in which such inspection has been 
made, in accordance with the form and regulations pre- 
scribed by the board of supervising inspectors. Such cer- 
tificate shall be verified by the oaths of the inspectors sign- 
ing it [,] before the chief officer of the customs of the 
district, or any other person competent by law to admin- 
ister oaths. If the inspectors refuse to grant a certificate 
of approval, they shall make a statement in writing, and 
sign the same, giving the reasons for their disapproval. 

REINSPECTION AND NOTICE FOR REPAIRS. 

Sec 4453. In addition to the annual inspection, the local 
inspectors shall examine, at proper times, steamers arriving 



15 

and departing to and from their respective ports, so often 
as to enable them to detect any neglect to comply with the 
requirements of law, and also any defects or imperfections 
becoming apparent after the inspection aforesaid, and tend- 
ing to render the navigation of the vessels unsafe ; and if 
they shall discover any omission to comply with the law, or 
that repairs have become necessary to make the vessel safe, 
the inspectors shall at once notify the master, in writing, 
stating in the notice what is required ; and if the master 
deems the requirements unreasonable or unnecessary, he 
may apply for a re-examination of the case to the super- 
vising inspector. All inspections and orders for repairs 
shall be promptly made by the inspectors, and, when it 
can be safely done in their judgment, they shall permit 
repairs to be made where those interested can most con- 
veniently do them. 

FAILURE TO MAKE REPAIRS. 

Sec. 4454. If any master or owner of any steamed shall 
refuse or neglect to comply with the requirements of the 
local inspectors, made in pursuance of the preceding sec- 
tion, and shall, contrary thereto and while the same re- 
mains unreversed by the supervising inspector, employ the 
vessel by navigating her, the master and owner shall be 
liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each offence, 
one half for the use of the informer ; for which sum the 
vessel itself shall be liable, and may be seized and proceeded 
against by libel in any district court having jurisdiction ; 
and the master and owner, and the vessel itself, shall, in 
addition thereto, be liable for any damage to passengers 
and their baggage which shall occur from any defects as 
stated in the notice prescribed by the preceding section. 

INTERFERENCE BETWEEN INSPECTORS. 

Sec. 4455. The inspectors of one district shall not modify 
or annul the doings of the inspectors of another distiict in 



10 

regard to repairs, unless there is a change in the state of 
things, demanding more repairs than were thought neces- 
sary when the order was made. Xor shall the inspectors 
of one district license a person coming from another dis- 
trict, if such person has been rejected for unfitness or want 
of qualifications. 

ANNUAL INSPECTION UPON WKITTEN APPLICATION. 

The annual inspection of a steamer must be made only 
on written application, presented to the United States in- 
spectors by the owner, master, or authorized agent of the 
steamer to be inspected. 

ONLY GOVEKNMENT STEAMERS EXEMPT FROM INSPECTION. 

Steam- vessels employed b} r the Government, unless the 
titles of the same are actually vested in the United States, 
are not exempt from inspection. 

INSPECTIONS PREVIOUS TO EXPIRATION OF CERTIFICATE. 

Inspectors may lawfully inspect within their respective 
districts, upon proper application, any steamer running 
upon the waters of their district, the certificate of which is 
about to expire. 

INSPECTORS MAY BORE THE HULL. 

In the inspection of the hulls of steamers, if the inspec- 
tor shall not have satisfactory evidence otherwise of the 
soundness of the timber, he shall not give a certificate until 
the hull of the vessel shall be bored to his satisfaction. 

OWNERS TO NOTIFY INSPECTORS WHEN VESSEL IS DOCKED. 

Whenever any steam-vessel is placed upon the dock for 
repairs, it shall be the duty of the owner or agent to report 
the same to the board of local inspectors of that district, so 



17 

that a thorough inspection may by them be made to deter- 
mine what is necessary to make such vessel seaworthy, if 
the condition or age of the steamer in the judgment of the 
inspectors render such examination necessary. 

LOCAL INSPECTORS' SIGNATURES ON CERTIFICATES. 

Certificates of inspection signed by one local inspector 
only shall not be valid, nor shall the name of a regular 
inspector be substituted by that of any other person upon 
any such certificate. This rule also applies to licenses. 

POWERS OF SUPERVISING INSPECTOR. 

Sec. 4409. The supervising inspector shall visit any col- 
lection district in which there is at any time no board of 
inspectors, and within which steam-vessels are owned or 
employed. Each supervising inspector shall have full 
power in any such district, or in any district where, from 
distance or other cause, it is inconvenient to resort to the 
local board, to inspect any steam- vessel and the boilers of 
such steamer, and to grant certificates of approval, and to 
do and perform all the duties imposed upon local boards. 

CERTIFICATES OF INSPECTION ISSUED FOR ONE YEAR. 

Certificates of inspection for any period less than one 

year shall not be issued. Inspectors issuing a permit to a 

steamboat to proceed to other ports for repairs must state 

upon the face of the same the condition upon which it is 

granted. 

CARRYING AN EXCESS OF STEAM. 

When it is known or comes to the knowledge of the 
local inspectors that any steam- vessel is or has been carry- 
ing an excess of steam beyond that which is allowed by her 
certificate of inspection, it is recommended that the local 
inspectors in whose district said steamer is being navigated, 
in addition to reporting the fact to the United States Dis- 
2 



18 

trict Attorney for prosecution under Section .4437, Revised 
Statutes, shall require the owner or owners of said steamer 
to place on the boiler of said steamer a lock-up safety- 
valve, that will prevent the carrying of an excess of steam 
and shall be under the control of said local inspectors. 

On the placing of a lock-up safety-valve upon any boiler, 
it shall be the duty of the engineer in charge of same to 
blow or cause the said valve to blow off steam at least once 
in each watch of six hours or less, to determine whether 
the valve is in working order, and it shall be his duty to 
report to the local inspectors any failure of such valve to 
operate. 

In case no such report is made, and a safety-valve is 
found that has been tampered with or out of order, the 
license of the engineer having such boiler in charge shall 
be revoked. 

It shall be the duty of the local inspectors to send a copy 
of this rule to every steamer in their district, when said 
copies are furnished by the Department. 

ACT ABOLISHING ALL CHARGES AND FEES. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the United States of America in Congress as- 
sembled. That on and after July first, eighteen hundred 
and eighty-six, no fees shall be charged or collected by 
collectors or other officers of customs, or by inspectors of 
steam-vessels . . . for the following services to vessels 
of the United States, to wit : . . . inspecting, exam- 
ining, and licensing steam -vessels, including inspection- 
certificate and copies thereof ; and licensing of master, 
engineer, pilot, or ma'te of a vessel. 

UNITED STATES OFFICERS GUILTY OF EXTOETION. 

Sec. 5481. Every officer of the United States who is 
guilty of extortion under color of his office shall be pun- 



19 

islied by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or 
by imprisonment not more than one year, except those 
officers or agents of the United States otherwise differently 
and specially provided for in subsequent sections of this 
chapter. 

INSPECTORS KECEIVING ILLEGAL FEES. 

Sec. 5482. Every inspector of steamboats who, upon 
any pretence, receives any fee or reward for his services, 
except what is allowed to him by law, shall forfeit his 
office, and be otherwise punished by a fine of not more 
than iive hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not more 
than six months, or by both. 

STEAM- VESSELS EXEMPT FKOM FEDERAL AUTHORITY. 

Steam-vessels navigating waters which are not highways 
of commerce, or open to navigation by uniting with other 
waters, thus forming a continued highway over which com- 
merce is or may be carried on with other States or foreign 
countries, are not subject to inspection, and do not require 
to be officered by men holding licenses from the United 
States local inspectors. In other words, a body of com- 
pletely land-enclosed water (such as Greenwood Lake in 
New York State) which does not wash the borders of any 
other State, may be navigated by any class of steam- vessels 
and the same are exempt from all United States laws and 
regulations. Another case in point is that of steam-launches 
on Central Park Lake, New York City, or on any other 
such body of water. — From Treasury Decisions, Sept. 29, 
1874 ; Jan. 6, 1880. 

STEAM-LAUNCHES MAY DISPENSE WITH A LIFE-BOAT. 

All open steam-launches or other steam- vessels of five 
tons burden or less, used for pleasure purposes only, will 
not be required to carry a life boat. 



20 

A LIFE-PRESERVER REQUIRED FOR EACH PERSON. 

There must be provided for each person on board a life- 
preserver, containing at least six pounds of good block cork 
or other suitable material, adjustable to the body in the 
manner of a belt or jacket, with shoulder straps, and same 
must bear the official approving stamp of the inspector of 
life-preservers. 

LIFE-BOATS, RAFTS, PUMPS, ETC. 

Sec. 4488. . . . And the board of supervising in- 
spectors shall fix and determine, by their rules and regula- 
tions, the kind of life-boats, floats, rafts, life-preservers, 
and drags that shall be used on vessels, and also the kind 
and capacity of pumps or other appliances for freeing the 
steamer from water in case of heavy leakage, the capacity 
of such pumps or appliances being suited to the navigation 
in which the steamer is employed. 

PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE LIFE-BOATS, ETC. 

Sec. 4489. The owner of any such steamer who neglects 
or refuses to provide such life-boats, floats, rafts, life-pre- 
servers, drags, pumps, or appliances, as are, under the pro- 
visions of the preceding section, required by the board of 
supervising inspectors, and approved by the Secretary of 
the Treasury, shall be fined one thousand dollars. 

INSPECTION OF FOREIGN STEAM- YACHT. 

A foreign-built steam -yacht purchased and owned by a 
citizen of the United States, and used in American waters, 
is subject to inspection by the special inspectors of foreign 
steam-vessels. 



CONCERNING LICENSED OFFICERS. 

PENALTY FOE OFFICERS ACTING WITHOUT A LICENSE. 

Sec. 4438. The boards of local inspectors shall license 
and classify the masters, chief mates, engineers, and pilots 
of all steam-vessels. It shall be unlawful to employ any 
person, or for any person to serve as a master, chief mate, 
engineer, or pilot on any steamer, who is not licensed by 
the inspectors ; and any one violating this section shall be 
liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each offence. 

ORIGINAL LICENSE AND RENEWAL. 

Before an original license is issued to any person to act 
as a master, mate, pilot, or engineer, he must personally 
appear before some local board, or a supervising inspector 
for examination ; but upon the renewal of such license, 
when the distance from any local board or supervising in- 
spector is such as to put the person holding the same to 
great inconvenience and expense to appear in person, he 
may, upon taking the oath of office before any person 
authorized to administer oaths, and forwarding the same, 
together with the license to be renewed, to the local board 
or supervising inspector of the district in which he resides 
or is employed, have the same renewed by the said inspec- 
tors, if no valid reason to the contrary be known to them ; 
and they shall attach such oath to the stub end of the 
license, which is to be retained on file in their office. And 
inspectors are directed, when licenses are completed, to 
draw a broad pen and red ink mark through all unused 
spaces in the body thereof, so as to prevent, so far as pos- 
sible, illegal interpolation after issue. 



22 

OATH OF LICENSED OFFICEKS. 

Sec. 4445. Every master, chief mate, engineer, and 
pilot, who receives a license, shall, before entering upon 
his duties, make oath before one of the inspectors herein 
provided for, to be recorded with the certificate, that he 
will faithfully and honestly, according to his best skill and 
judgment, without concealment or reservation, perform all 
the duties required of him by law. 

LICENSES TO BE EXHIBITED. 

Sec. 4446. Every master, mate, engineer, and pilot who 
shall receive a license shall, when employed upon any 
vessel, place his certificate of license, which shall be framed 
under glass, in some conspicuous place in such vessel, where 
it can be seen by passengers and others at all times ; and 
for every neglect to comply with this provision by any 
such master, mate, engineer, or pilot, he shall be subject 
to a fine of one hundred dollars, or to the revocation of his 
license. 

LICENSE OF MASTER. 

Sec. 4439. Whenever any person applies to be licensed 
as master of a steam-vessel, the inspectors] shall make 
diligent inquiry as to his character, and shall carefully 
examine the applicant, as well as the proofs which he pre- 
sents in support of his claim, and if they are satisfied that 
his capacity, experience, habits of life and character are 
such as to warrant the belief that he can be safely intrusted 
with the duties and responsibilities of the station for which 
he makes application, they shall grant him a license author- 
izing him to discharge such duties on any such vessel for 
the term of one year ; but such license shall be suspended 
or revoked, upon satisfactory proof of bad conduct, intem- 
perate habits, incapacity, inattention to his duties, or the 
wilful violation of any provision of this Title. 



23 

STEAM-YACHTS DO NOT REQUIRE A LICENSED MASTEK. 

All steam -yachts are obliged by statute law to carry a 
licensed pilot and a licensed engineer, but they are not 
required to have a licensed master. The pilot in charge of 
a steam-yacht may also be named as master in the docu- 
ments of the vessel, or the owner may place therein his 
own name, or that of some other person as master. 

On steam-yachts a licensed pilot and a licensed engineer 
on watch constitute a full complement of licensed officers 
required by statute, whatever the tonnage of the yacht 
maj 7 be. 

An officer holding a master's ocean steamship license 
cannot act as pilot of a steam- yacht on inland waters unless 
the local inspectors endorse his license for such work. — 
Treasury Decisions. 

LICENSE OF CHIEF MATE. 

Sec. 4440. Whenever any person applies for authority 
to be employed as chief mate of steam -vessels, the inspec- 
tors shall require satisfactory evidence of the knowledge, 
experience, and skill of the applicant in lading cargo, and 
in handling and stowage of freight, and shall examine him 
as to his knowledge and ability in navigation and managing 
such vessels, and all other duties pertaining to his station ; 
and if satisfied of his qualifications and good character, 
they shall grant him a license, authorizing him to perform 
such duties for the term of one year ; but such license 
shall be suspended or revoked upon satisfactory proof of 
bad conduct, intemperate habits, unskilfulness, or want of 
knowledge of the duties of his station, or the wilful vio- 
lation of any provision of this Title. 

STEAM-YACHTS DO NOT REQUIRE A LICENSED MATE. 

Mates of steam-yachts are not obliged to be licensed, but 
no unlicensed officer can take charge of the deck of a 



24 

steam-yacht when she is under way and on waters within 
the jurisdiction of the United States. 

MASTERS* AND MATES' LICENSES MAY INCLUDE PILOTAGE. 

Whenever a licensed master or a licensed mate desires to 
act also as pilot, and furnishes the necessary evidences of 
ability, the local inspectors for the district where the license 
is issued shall endorse such pilot routes on the certificates. 

SEPARATE LICENSES NOT REQUIRED. 

Sec. 4443. Where the master or mate is also pilot of the 
vessel, he shall not be required to hold two licenses to per- 
form such duties, but the license issued shall state on its 
face that he is authorized to act in such double capacity. 

LICENSE OF ENGINEER. 

Sec. 4441. Whenever any person applies for authority 
to perform the duties of engineer of any steam-vessel, the 
inspectors shall examine the applicant as to his knowledge 
of steam machinery, and his experience as an engineer, 
and also the proofs which he produces in support of his 
claim ; and if, upon full consideration, they are satisfied 
that his character, habits of life, knowledge, and experi- 
ence in the duties of an engineer are all such as to authorize 
the belief that he is a suitable and safe person to be in- 
trusted with the powers and duties of such a station, they 
shall grant him a license, authorizing him to be employed 
in such duties for the term of one year, in which they shall 
assign him to the appropriate class of engineers ; but such 
license shall be suspended or revoked upon satisfactory 
proof of negligence, unskilfulness, intemperance, or the 
wilful violation of any provision of this Title. Whenever 
complaint is made against any engineer holding a license 
authorizing him to take charge of the boilers and machinery 
of any steamer, that he has, through negligence or want of 



25 

skill, permitted the boilers in his charge to burn or other- 
wise become in bad condition, or that he has not kept his 
engine and machinery in good working order, it shall be 
the duty of the inspectors, upon satisfactory proof of such 
negligence or want of skill, to revoke the license of such 
engineer and assign him to a lower grade or class of en- 
gineers, if they find him fitted therefor. 

ASSISTANT ENGINEERS MAY ACT AS CHIEF. 

Assistant engineers may act as chief engineers on high- 
pressure steamers of one hundred tons burden and under, 
of the class and tonnage, or particular steamer for which 
the inspectors, after a thorough examination, may find 
them qualified. In all cases where an assistant engineer is 
permitted to act as first [chief] engineer, the inspectors 
shall state on the face of his certificate of license the class 
and tonnage of steamers, or the particular steamer on which 
he may so act. 

DUTY OF CHIEF ENGINEER. 

It shall be the duty of an engineer, when he assumes 
charge of the boilers and machinery of a steamer, to forth- 
with thoroughly examine the same, and if he finds any 
part thereof in bad condition, caused by neglect or inatten- 
tion on the part of his predecessor, he shall immediately 
report the facts to the local inspectors of the district, who 
shall thereupon investigate the matter, and if the former 
engineer has been culpably derelict of duty, they shall 
suspend or revoke his license. 

ENGINEEKS MUST BE ABLE TO KEAD AND WRITE. 

And no original license shall be granted any engineer, or 
assistant engineer, who cannot read and write, and does 
not understand the plain rules of arithmetic. 



26 

STEAM LAUNCHES MUST CAREY A LICENSED ENGINEER. 

Launches propelled by steam-power must be inspected, 
and must carry a licensed engineer. 

LICENSED ENGINEER NOT REQUIRED FOR NAPHTHA LAUNCH. 

Naphtha launches are not inspected, and are not required 
to carry a licensed engineer. 

NAPHTHA FUEL STEAM-VESSELS MUST CARRY A LICENSED 

ENGINEER. 

Steam-vessels using naphtha, or any of the products of 
petroleum, or other mineral oils or substances for fuel are 
subject to inspection and must carry a licensed engineer. 

LICENSE OF PILOT. 

Sec. 4442. Whenever any person claiming to be a skil- 
ful pilot of steam-vessels offers himself for a license, the 
inspectors shall make diligent inquiry as to his character 
and merits, and if satisfied, from personal examination of 
the applicant, with the proof that he offers that he pos- 
sesses the requisite knowledge and skill, and is trustworthy 
and faithful, they shall grant him a license for the term of 
one year to pilot any such vessel within the limits pre- 
scribed in the license ; but such license shall be suspended 
or revoked upon satisfactory evidence of negligence, un- 
skil fulness, inattention to the duties of his station, or in- 
temperance, or the wilful violation of any provision of this 
Title. 

COLOR-BLIND EXAMINATION FOR PILOTS. 

Inspectors are forbidden to issue original licenses to 
pilots of steam- vessels, except on the official certificate of 
a surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service that the applicant 
is free from the defect known as color-blindness. 

In case the applicant is pronounced color-blind, he may, 



27 

in the discretion of the inspectors, be limited to act as pilot 
on a vessel navigating in daylight only. 

In case of renewal of license of any pilot who has not 
been examined, and who is living at an inconvenient dis- 
tance from a surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service, he 
may be examined for color-blindness by any respectable 
physician residing in the same town or locality with said 
applicant, who (the physician) shall furnish a report of the 
examination made upon the regulation blanks, which shall 
be in duplicate, one of which shall be furnished the appli- 
cant, and the other sent by mail to the local inspectors of 
steam- vessels to which application shall be made for a 
renewal of license. 

In case the applicant shall be found incompletely color- 
blind, the local inspectors shall examine with the colored 
signal-lights, and if satisfied that the applicant can suffi- 
ciently distinguish the colored signal-lights used on steam- 
vessels, they may, in their discretion, renew the license of 
such applicant. 

• Provided, however, before granting or renewing a 
license to pilots or engineers, inspectors shall satisfy them- 
selves that they can properly hear the bell and whistle 
signals. 

PILOTS MUST BE ABLE TO BEAD AND WBITE. 

Inspectors are forbidden to issue original licenses to 
pilots who cannot read and write. 

[STEAM-YACHTS EEQUIBING FIBST-CLASS PILOTS. 

The navigation of every steamer above one hundred tons 
burden shall be under the control of a first-class pilot, and 
every such pilot shall be limited in his license to the par- 
ticular service for which he is adapted. Special pilots may 
also be licensed for small steamers of all kinds, locally 
employed. 



28 
STEAM-YACHTS REQUIRING SECOND-CLASS PILOTS. 

The navigation of every steamer under one hundred tons 
burden shall be under the control of a second-class pilot, 
or one holding a higher grade of license. 

STEAM-LAUNCHES MUST CARRY A LICENSED PILOT. 

Launches propelled by steam must be inspected, and 
must carry a licensed pilot. 

LICENSED PILOT NOT REQUIRED FOR NAPHTHA LAUNCHES. 

Naphtha launches are not inspected, and are not required 
to carry a licensed pilot. 

NAPHTHA FUEL STEAM-VESSELS MUST CARRY A LICENSED 

PILOT. 

Steam-vessels using naphtha, or any of the products of 
petroleum, or other mineral oils or substances for fuel are 
subject to inspection by the local inspectors, and are 
obliged to carry a licensed pilot. 

RAISING THE GRADE OF PILOT OR ENGINEER. 

Except by the consent in writing of the board that 
granted the license, no other board shall raise the grade of 
an engineer or pilot during the year for which the license 
was granted. 

RULES GOVERNING PILOTS. 

Pilots of steam-vessels, while in the discharge of their 
duties, must be governed by the rules of the board of super- 
vising inspectors made for their guidance. 

PRESENTING LICENSE FOR RENEWAL. 

Whenever an officer shall apply for a renewal of his 
license for the same grade, the presentation of the old cer- 



29 

tificate may be considered sufficient evidence of his title to 
renewal, provided, it is presented within twelve months 
after the date of its expiration, unless such title has been 
forfeited, or facts shall have come to the knowledge of the 
inspectors which would render a renewal improper. 

LICENSED OFFICER REFUSING DUTY. 

Sec. 4449. If any licensed officer shall, to the hindrance 
of commerce, wrongfully or unreasonably refuse to serve 
in his official capacity on any steamer, as authorized by the 
terms of his certificate of license, or shall fail to deliver to 
the applicant for such service at the time of such refusal, 
if the same shall be demanded, a statement in writing as- 
signing good and sufficient reasons therefor, or if any pilot 
or engineer shall refuse to admit into the pilot-house or 
engine-room any person whom the master or owner of the 
vessel may desire to place there for the purpose of learning 
the profession, his license shall be revoked, upon the same 
proceedings as are provided in other cases of revocation of 
such licenses. 

REVOCATION OF LICENSE. 

When the license of any master, mate, pilot, or engineer 
is revoked, such license expires with such revocation, and 
any license subsequently granted to such person shall be 
considered in the light of an original license. 

The suspension or revocation of a joint license shall de- 
bar the person holding the same from the exercise of any 
of the privileges therein granted so long as such suspension 
or revocation shall remain in force. 

DURATION OF A SUSPENDED LICENSE. 

When the license of any master, mate, engineer, or 
pilot is suspended, the inspectors making such suspension 
shall determine the term of its duration, except that such 



30 

suspension cannot extend beyond the time for which the 
license was issued. 

LICENSED OFFICERS TO ASSIST INSPECTORS. 

Sec. 4448. All officers licensed under the provisions of 
this Title shall assist the inspectors in their examination of 
any vessel to which such licensed officers belong, and shall 
point out all defects and imperfections known to them in 
the hull, equipments, boilers, or machinery of such vessel, 
and also shall make known to the inspectors, at the earliest 
opportunity, all accidents or occurrences producing serious 
injury to the vessel, her boilers, or machinery ; and in de- 
fault thereof the license of any such officer so neglecting or 
refusing shall be revoked. 

LICENSED OFFICEES MUST REPORT ACCIDENTS. 

Whenever a steamer meets with an accident involving 
loss of life or damage to property, it shall be the duty of 
the licensed officers of any such steamer to report the same, 
in writing and in person, without delay, to the nearest local 
board : Provided, When from distance it may be incon- 
venient to report in person, it may be done in writing 
only, and the report sworn to before an authorized magis- 
trate. 

MISCONDUCT OF OFFICERS AND OTHERS. 

Sec. 5344. Every captain, engineer, pilot, or other per- 
son employed on any steamboat or vessel, by whose mis- 
conduct, negligence, or inattention to his duties on such 
vessel, the life of any person is destroyed, and every owner, 
inspector, or other public officer, through whose fraud, 
connivance, misconduct, or violation of law, the life of any 
person is destroyed, shall be deemed guilty of manslaugh- 
ter, and, upon conviction thereof before any circuit court 
of the United States, shall be sentenced to confinement at 
hard labor for a period of not more than ten years. 



31 

MALTREATMENT OF CREW. 

Sec. 5347. Every master or other officer of any Ameri- 
can vessel on the high seas, or on any other waters within 
the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United 
States, who, from malice, hatred, or revenge, and without 
justifiable cause, beats, wounds, or imprisons any of the 
crew of such vessel, or withholds from them suitable food 
and nourishment, or inflicts upon them any cruel and un- 
usual punishment, shall be punished by a fine of not more 
than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not more 
than five years, or by both. 

INVESTIGATION OF CONDUCT OF OFFICERS. 

Sec. 4450. The local boards of inspectors shall investi- 
gate all acts of incompetency or misconduct committed by 
any licensed officer while acting under the authority of his 
license, and shall have power to summon before them any 
witnesses within their respective districts, and compel their 
attendance by a similar process as in the United States cir- 
cuit or district courts ; and they may administer all neces- 
sary oaths to any witnesses thus summoned before them ; 
and after reasonable notice in writing, given to the alleged 
delinquent, of the time and place of such investigation, 
such witnesses shall be examined, under oath, touching the 
performance of his duties by any such licensed officer ; and 
if the board shall be satisfied that such licensed officer is 
incompetent, or has been guilty of misbehavior, negligence, 
or uskilfulness, or has endangered life, or wilfully violated 
any provision of this Title, they shall immediately suspend 
or revoke his license. 

PAYMENT OF WITNESSES. 

Sec. 4451. The chief officer of the customs for the dis- 
trict shall pay out of the revenues received under the pro- 
visions of this Title such fees to the United States marshal 
for his services, and to any witness, so summoned, for his 



32 

actual travel and attendance, as shall be officially certified 
to by any inspector hearing the case, upon the back of such 
summons, not exceeding the rate allowed for fees and to 
witnesses for travel and attendance in any circuit or district 
courts of the United States. 

APPEAL TO SUPERVISING INSPECTOR. 

Sec. 44:52. Whenever any board of local inspectors re- 
fuses to grant a license to any person applying for the 
same, or suspends or revokes the license of any master, 
mate, engineer, or pilot, any person deeming himself 
wronged by such refusal, suspension, or revocation, may, 
within thirty days thereof, on application to the supervising 
inspector of the district, have his case examined anew by 
such supervising inspector ; and the local board shall fur- 
nish to the supervising inspector, in writing, the reasons 
for its doings in the premises ; and such supervising in- 
spector shall examine the case anew, and he shall have the 
same powers to summon witnesses and compel their attend- 
ance, and to administer oaths, that are conferred on local 
inspectors ; and such witnesses and the marshal shall be 
paid in the same manner as provided for by the preceding 
section ; and such supervising inspector may revoke, 
change, or modify the decision of such local board ; and 
like proceedings may be had by any master or owner of 
any steam- vessel in relation to the inspection of such ves- 
sel, or her boilers or machinery, by any such local board ; 
and in case of repairs, and in any investigation or inspec- 
tion, where there shall be a disagreement between the local 
inspectors, the supervising inspector, when so requested, 
shall investigate and decide the case. 

AMERICAN SHIPMASTERS' DIPLOMAS FOR MASTERS AND 

MATES. 

The American Shipmasters' Association, 37 William 
Street, New York City, has for many years issued cer- 



33 

tificates of competency to masters and mates of square- 
rigged and of fore-and-aft sailing-vessels. Owners and 
officers of yachts may secure from this board diplomas of 
ability to command or to act as mate of schooners, pro- 
vided they shall satisfy the examining board as to their pro- 
ficiency in fore-and-aft seamanship and navigation— an ex- 
amination, by the way, which, though practically thorough, 
is such as many of our excellent amateur yachtsmen could 
pass with flying colors. The American Shipmasters' As- 
sociation is approved by the Boards of Underwriters of 
New York, Boston, and San Francisco. 
3 



UNITED STATES STATUTES AND TREASUKY 
DECISIONS. 

YACHT LICENSES. 

Sec. 4214. The Secretary of the Treasury may cause 
yachts used and employed exclusively as pleasure vessels or 
designed as models of naval architecture, if built and owned 
in compliance with the provisions of Sections 4133 to 4135, 
to be licensed on terms which will authorize them to pro- 
ceed from port to port of the United States, and by sea to 
foreign ports, without entering or clearing at the Custom 
House. Such license shall be in such form as the Secretary 
of the Treasury may prescribe. The owner of any such 
vessel, before taking out such license, shall give a bond in 
such form and for such amount as the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall prescribe, conditioned that the vessel shall 
not engage in any trade, nor in any way violate the revenue 
laws of the United States ; and shall comply with the laws 
in all other respects. Such vessels, so enrolled and 
licensed, shall not be allowed to transport merchandise or 
carry passengers for pay. Such vessels shall have their 
name and port placed on some conspicuous portion of their 
hulls. Such vessels shall, in all respects, except as above, 
be subject to the laws of the United States, and shall be 
liable to seizure and forfeiture for any violation of the pro- 
visions of this Title. 

LICENSE BENEFITS. 

A license authorizes a yacht to sail from port to port of 
the United States, and by sea to foreign ports, without 
entrance or clearance, and absolves her from the payment 



35 

of tonnage duty and light money. Upon the return of a 
yacht to the United States after visiting foreign ports she 
must enter at the Custom House of the port of her first 
arrival. 

To become a yacht, within the meaning of the law, such 
vessel must be licensed, and must belong to some regularly 
incorporated yacht club. 

CONCERNING PLEASURE VESSELS UNDER FIVE TONS BURDEN. 

Pleasure vessels, whether steam or sail, of less than five 
tons burden, are not required to be licensed ; but steam- 
vessels, whatever their tonnage, must be inspected by the 
local steamboat inspectors, and must be commanded and 
engineered by licensed officers. Vessels of this class may 
cruise within the waters of the United States, entering and 
leaving 'various ports without entrance or clearance, and 
yet be subject to no penalty ; but in the event of going 
foreign, they would be subject to annoyance unless possess- 
ing clearance papers. 

ENTERING A VESSEL AND MANIFEST. 

To enter a vessel it is necessary to have a manifest with 
two copies ready on arrival. The revenue cutter may take 
one, the boarding officer another, while the third is pro- 
duced by the master before the collector, and makes oath 
of its truth. The manifest of a yacht should specify ship's 
stores and state that no cargo is carried. 

ENROLMENT OF A YACHT. 

Enrolment is no longer necessary for a yacht, but the 
owner may have it if the vessel be of twenty tons or more. 
Enrolment does not expire unless the yacht changes owner- 
ship, alters her rig, or tonnage, etc., and it answers as a 
record of the yacht's uninterrupted ownership. 



36 

SECURING LICENSE AND ENROLMENT FOR A STEAM- 
YACHT. 

Before the chief customs officer can grant a license or 
enrolment to a steam-yacht he must first receive a certifi- 
cate from the local inspectors of steam- vessels, stating that 
the yacht and its equipments are approved by them. 

LIABILITY OF PLEASURE VESSEL'S NAVIGATED WITHOUT A 

LICENSE. 

A pleasure vessel, built in the United States and owned 
by an American citizen, is liable to light money of fifty 
cents per ton at each port of arrival in the United States, 
provided she is navigated without a license and over five 
tons burden. 

VESSEL ABSENT FROM HOME PORT RENEWING LICENSE. 

Should a vessel be absent from her home port when the 
license expires, a new one may be obtained by the master 
delivering to the chief customs officer of the port in which 
the vessel may be the old license and taking before him 
the master's oath. The customs officer will then transmit 
the papers to the chief customs officer at the vessel's home 
port, and a new license will be returned. 

SURRENDER OF LICENSE. 

The master of a vessel may surrender his license at any 
time and have his vessel licensed anew. 

LOSS OF LICENSE. 

If a license should be destroyed or lost, and an oath 
taken to that effect by the master before the chief customs 
officer, a new license will be granted. 

LICENSE EXPIRING WHILE VESSEL IS ABROAD. 

If the license of a yacht expires while she is abroad, the 
license remains in force until the return of the vessel to the 
United States. 



37 

COMMISSION TO SAIL FOR PLEASURE. 

A commission to sail for pleasure, in any designated 
yacht belonging to a regularly organized and incorporated 
yacht club, may be obtained from the Treasury Depart- 
ment through the collector of customs at the port where 
the yacht may be. It does not supersede the license, but 
is in addition to it, and is only issued to yachts going 
abroad to secure more extended courtesies. ' It is issued for 
the voyage only, and must be surrendered at the port of 
her first arrival on her return to the United States. 

SHIPPING ARTICLES FOR CREW. 

Before sailing on a foreign voyage the master of a yacht 
may have a certified crew list and shipping articles, obtained 
from a United States Shipping Commissioner, although 
it is not compulsory. An English or other foreign yacht 
would be obliged to sign the crew before the respective 
consuls. 

BILL OF HEALTH. 

Whether or not in going foreign a bill of health for the 
vessel would be needed, depends upon the laws of the 
country of her destination. A bill of health may be ob- 
tained from the Custom House upon demand, provided 
the port sailing from is in a normal condition of healthf ill- 
ness. 

FOREIGN YACHT ARRIVING FROM ABROAD MUST ENTER. 

A foreign yacht arriving from abroad must be entered 
at the port of her first arrival ; but tonnage duty is not 
exacted, provided she belongs to a regularly organized and 
incorporated yacht club. 

COURTESIES SHOWN TO FOREIGN YACHTS. 

A yacht of any foreign nation, which extends like cour- 
tesies to yachts belonging to the United States, and pro- 



38 

vided that such foreign yacht belongs to a regularly organ- 
ized and incorporated yacht club, is privileged to depart 
from and arrive at ports in the United States without clear- 
ing or entering. If the yacht does not belong to such a 
nation or does not belong to such a yacht club, she must 
enter and clear from every port of the United States she 
goes into. 

FOREIGN YACHT WRECKED IN UNITED STATES WATERS. 

-Should a foreign yacht be wrecked in United States 
waters, and be purchased by an American citizen, who 
expends upon her in repairs three times as much as he 
paid for her as a wreck, she could be documented as a yacht 
of the United States. 

PRESCRIBED AMERICAN YACHT SIGNAL. 

The United States Statutes require American yachts to 
fly the American ensign, on which in the blue field is sub- 
stituted a white foul anchor surrounded by thirteen white 
stars in a circle, in lieu of a star for each State. 

SAILING YACHTS TO EXHIBIT NAME. 

The name and hailing port of a sailing yacht must be 
placed on the stern in letters not less than three inches in 
length, in white, yellow, or gilt on a black ground. 

STEAM- YACHTS TO EXHIBIT NAME. 

The name and hailing port of a screw-steamer yacht 
must be placed on the stern in letters not less than three 
inches in length, and upon each side of the pilot-house in 
letters six inches in length ; but if she is a side- wheel ves- 
sel the name must be painted on the outside of each paddle- 
box in letters not less than six inches in length. (Section 
4495.) 



39 

Painting the vessel's name on the bows is optional with 
the owner. 

ENFOECEMENT OF SECTION 4495. 

Sec. 4496. All collectors, or other chief officers of the 
customs, and all inspectors within the several districts, shall 
enforce the provisions of this Title against all steamers 
arriving and departing. 

PENALTY FOE OMISSION OF DUTY BY CUSTOMS OFFICEE. 

Sec. 4497. Every collector, or other chief officer of the 
customs, or inspector, who negligently or intentionally 
omits any duty under the preceding section, shall be liable 
to removal from office, and to a penalty of one hundred 
dollars for each offence, to be sued for in an action of debt. 

LICENSE, ENEOLMENT, ETC., DENIED FOE NON-COMPLI- 
ANCE WITH THE LAW. 

Sec. 4498. No license, register, or enrolment shall be 
granted, nor any other papers be issued, by any collector 
or other chief officer of the customs, to any vessel propelled 
in whole or in part by steam, until he shall have satisfac- 
tory evidence that all the provisions of this Title have been 
fully complied with. 

VESSEL LIABLE TO SEIZUEE FOE NON-COMPLIANCE WITH 

THE LAW. 

Sec 4499. If any vessel propelled in whole or in part 
by steam be navigated without complying with the terms 
of this Title, the owner shall be liable to the United States 
in a penalty of five hundred dollars for each offence, one 
half for the use of the informer, for which sum the vessel 
so navigated shall be liable, and may be seized and pro- 
ceeded against by way of libel in any district court of the 
United States having jurisdiction of the offence. 



40 

PENALTY IN CASES NOT PEOVIDED FOE. 

Sec. 4530. The penalty for the violation of any pro- 
vision of this Title, not otherwise specially provided for, 
shall be a fine of five hundred dollars, recoverable one half 
for the use of the informer. 

CUSTOM HOUSE MEASUEEMENT. 

The legal tonnage of a vessel is to be ascertained by an 
official measurer, who shall certify to the documenting 
officer the particulars of the build of the vessel, her gross 
and net tonnage, etc., and the certificate is required to be 
countersigned by the owner or master of the vessel. 

The owner or master must furnish the official measurer 
with a filled- out form (same appended) from the master 
carpenter certifying to the particulars of the vessel : 

District of 
Port of 
I, , principal (or) master carpenter 

of , do certify that the vessel named the 

was built by me (or), under my direction, 
at during the year 18 for ; 

that the said vessel is a , has decks, 

masts, is in length, in breadth, 

in depth, and of tons burden. 

As witness my hand, the day and year aforesaid, 

TONNAGE MAEK. 

On all vessels the net (legal) tonnage mark must be 
shown on the main beam, and where the latter is of wood 
it must be cut in, but should the main beam be of iron, 
then the net tonnage is to be marked by the use of oil 
paint. The numbers are to be prefixed with the words 
" Tonnage Mark," and all letters and numbers are to be 
plain in character, and the latter not less than three inches 
high. 



41 

OFFICIAL NUMBEK. 

Every documented vessel must procure from the Bureau 
of Navigation, through the chief customs officer of the 
port in which the vessel may be, an official number, and 
have the same either carved or painted on the main beam 
of the vessel, in the manner described for the tonnage 
mark, and the official number must also appear on the 
vessel's marine documents. 

SIGNAL LETTEKS. 

Signal letters are given to every documented vessel of 
one hundred tons and more upon application. In the lat- 
ter must be specified the rig, name, owner, tonnage, port, 
and place, and year of building. Signal letters must 
appear on the vessel's marine documents. 

OFFICERS OF UNITED STATES VESSELS MUST BE AMER- 
ICAN CITIZENS. 

All the officers of vessels of the United States shall be 
citizens of the United States, except that in cases where, 
on a foreign voyage, or on a voyage from an Atlantic to 
a Pacific port of the United States, any such vessel is for 
any reason deprived of the services of an officer below the 
grade of master, his place, or a vacancy caused by the pro- 
motion of another officer to such place, may be supplied by 
a person not a citizen of the United States until the first 
return of such vessel to its home port ; and such vessel shall 
not be liable to any penalty or penal tax for such em- 
ployment of an alien officer. 

PENALTY FOR OMISSION TO SHOW LIGHTS. 

Sec. 4234. Collectors, or other chief officers of the 
customs, shall require all sail-vessels to be furnished with 
proper signal-lights, and every such vessel shall, on the ap- 



42 

proach of any steam-vessel during the night-time, show a 
lighted torch upon that point or quarter to which such 
' steam-vessel shall be approaching. Every such vessel that 
shall be navigated without complying with the provisions 
of this section shall be liable to a penalty of two hundred 
dollars, one half to go to the informer ; for which sum the 
vessel so navigated shall be liable, and may be seized and 
proceeded against by way of libel, in any district court of 
the United States having jurisdiction of the offence. 

PILOTAGE ON BOUNDARIES BETWEEN STATES. 

Sec. 4236. The master of any vessel coming into or 
going out of any port situate upon waters which are the 
boundary between two States, may employ any pilot duly 
licensed or authorized by the laws of either of the States 
bounded on such waters, to pilot the vessel to or from such 
port. 

NO DISCRIMINATION IN HATES OF PILOTAGE. 

Sec. 4237. No regulations or provisions shall be adopted 
by any State which shall make any discrimination in the 
rate of pilotage or half-pilotage between vessels sailing 
between the ports of one State and vessels sailing between 
the ports of different States, or any discrimination against 
vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, or against 
national vessels of the United States ; and all existing 
regulations or provisions making any such discrimination 
are annulled and abrogated. 

STATE REGULATIONS OF PILOTS. 

Sec. 4444. No State or municipal government shall 
impose upon pilots of steam- vessels any obligation to pro- 
cure a State or other license in addition to that issued by 
the United States, or any other regulation which will im- 
pede such pilots in the performance of the duties required 



43 

by this Title ; nor shall any pilot-charges be levied by any 
such authority upon any steamer piloted as provided by 
this Title ; and in no case shall the fees charged for the 
pilotage of any steam -vessel exceed the customary or 
legally established rates in the State where the same is 
performed. Nothing in this Title shall be construed to 
annul or affect any regulation established by the laws of 
any State, requiring vessels entering or leaving a port in 
any such State, other than coastwise steam- vessels, to take 
a pilot duly licensed or authorized by the laws of such 
State, or of a State situate upon the waters of such State. 

CHANGE OF VESSEL'S NAME. 

The name of a sail-vessel may be changed at will before 
she is documented, after which application must be made 
through the chief officer of the customs at the home port 
to the Commissioner of Navigation. If she is a steam- 
vessel under five tons the name may be changed at time 
of annual inspection. 

WHEN A VESSEL MUST BE NEWLY DOCUMENTED. 

Whenever the vessel changes ownership, or alters her 
rig or tonnage, she must be documented anew. 

PENALTY FOE DECEPTION CONCEENING VESSEL'S 
CHAEACTEE, ETC. 

Should an owner or master attempt to deceive the pub- 
lic, or any officer of the Government, or of the State, or 
any person, concerning the name or character of his vessel, 
the same would be liable to forfeiture. 

COMPULSOEY PILOTAGE FOE AMEEICAN YACHTS. 

As a rule pilots speak yachts very seldom, whatever 
their nationality, as they do not offer sufficient inducements 



44 

in a money sense, owing to their limited draught, for the 
pilot to leave the pilotage ground and thus give up the 
chance of speaking a deep vessel a little later on. 

An American yacht leaving for a foreign cruise, or arriv- 
ing in the United States from a foreign port, is subject to 
pilotage (in States where compulsory pilotage exists) pro- 
vided she is spoken. Should the services of a pilot be offered 
and the same refused (under the above circumstances) the 
yacht would be liable for full pilotage. 

COMPULSORY PILOTAGE FOR A FOREIGN-BUILT YACHT. 

A foreign-built yacht arriving at a United States port 
from abroad, or leaving a United States port for foreign, 
is liable for pilotage if she is spoken. According to a strict 
interpretation of State pilotage laws, a foreign-built yacht 
would also be subject to pilotage (when cruising in Ameri- 
can waters) in going in and out of all United States ports, 
covered by State pilot laws ; but this is seldom or never 
exacted, owing to the courtesy which is extended to visiting 
yachts. 

FOREIGN-BUILT YACHTS OWNED BY AMERICAN CITIZENS. 

The Department Regulations concerning foreign-built 
yachts owned by American citizens are as follows r 

" Foreign-built (or denationalized) vessels purchased and 
wholly owned by citizens of the United States, whether 
purchased of belligerents or neutrals during a w T ar to which 
the United States are not a party, or in peace, of foreign 
powers, are entitled to the protection of the authorities and 
flag of the United States, as the property of American 
citizens, although no register, enrolment, license, or other 
marine document, prescribed by the laws of the United 
States, can be lawfully issued to such vessels. (General 
Regulations of 1884, Art. 93.) 

" To enable, however, the owners of a vessel so circum- 



45 

stanced to protect their rights, if molested or questioned, 
the collector of the customs, though forbidden by law to 
grant any marine document or certificate of ownership, 
may lawfully make record of the bill of sale in his office, 
authenticate its validity in form and substance, and deliver 
to the owner a certificate to that effect ; certifying, also, 
that the owner is a citizen of the United States. These 
facts thus authenticated, if the transfer was in good faith, 
entitle the vessel to protection as the lawful property of a 
citizen of the United States ; and the authenti cation of 
the bill of sale and of citizenship will be prima facie proof 
of such good faith. (Art. 94.) 

44 In all cases, therefore, where the evidence of the pur- 
chase of a foreign vessel by a citizen of the United States, 
with proof of citizenship, and of the honafide character of 
the purchase, shall be furnished to a collector of the cus- 
toms, he will, if the proof be satisfactory, and purchase 
deemed in good faith, record the bill of sale in his office, 
and deliver to the party the original, with a certificate 
endorsed thereon in the following form : 

" ' I, , collector of the customs for 

the port (district) of , in the State of , 

in the United States of America, do hereby certify that 
the within bill of sale, bearing date of of the 

(here describe the vessel, her tonnage, denomination, name, 
etc.), sold and transferred by to , 

is, in form and substance, valid and effective in law, and 
has been duly recorded in my office ; and that the said 
(meaning the owners) are citizens of the United States. 
As witness my hand and seal this day of , 

in the year of our Lord, 18 . L. S.' (Art. 95.) 

" Before granting such certificate the collector of the cus- 
toms will require the tonnage of the vessel to be duly as- 
certained in pursuance of law, and insert the same in the 
description of the vessel in his certificate. (Art. 96.) 



46 

" A separate record will be kept of these vessels, and in 
the tonnage returns they will be reported in a separate col- 
umn under the head of ' Foreign-built (or undocumented) 
vessels owned by citizens of the United States.'" (Art. 
97, General Regulations of 1884.) 

FOKEIGN-BUILT YACHTS FLYING AMEKICAN FLAG. 

Both the United States Treasury and State Departments 
assent to the flying of the United States flag on foreign- 
built yachts owned wholly by citizens of the United States, 
as the following Decision and Regulation will show : 

" The privilege of carrying the flag of the United States 
belongs to any American citizen owning a vessel. Bat the 
presence of the flag would guarantee no other rights or 
privileges than such as would attach to her simply as the 
property of an American citizen, unless she should be duly 
registered. A certificate of registry granted her as a vessel 
of the United States would secure her all the privileges of 
navigation that attach to such an instrument under the laws 
of nations or the stipulations of treaties with those nations 
into whose waters she might sail. In this connection atten- 
tion is called to Article 344 of the Regulations prescribed 
by the Department of State for the use of the consular ser- 
vice of the United States. (Decision 5616, in 1883.) 

" The privilege of carrying the flag of the United States 
is under the regulation of Congress, and it may have been 
the intention of that body that it should be used only by 
regularly documented vessels. No such intention, how- 
ever, is found in any statute. And as a citizen is not pro- 
hibited from purchasing and employing abroad a foreign 
ship, it is regarded as reasonable and proper that he should 
be permitted to fly the flag of his country as an indication 
of ownership and for the due protection of his property. 
The practice of carrying the flag by such vessels is now 
established. The right to do so will not be questioned, 



47 

and it is probable that it would be respected by the courts." 
(Par. 344, Consular Regulations.) 

AUTHOR'S OPINION ABOUT FLYING THE AMERICAN YACHT 
ENSIGN ON FOREIGN-BUILT YACHTS. 

While the foregoing Decision and Regulation grant to 
foreign-built yachts owned wholly by American citizens 
the right of flying the United States flag on the vessels, 
they really do not forbid them to fly the American yacht 
ensign ; neither is any penalty attached to such a proceed- 
ing ; consequently in the opinion of the writer the customs 
officials, nor any other United States officials have any 
authority whatever for interfering with such a flag exhib- 
ited on a foreign-built yacht owned by an American citi- 
zen. Should the regulations direct that the flag in ques- 
tion should not be flown, and the owner should fly it in 
defiance of such regulations, then he would be guilty of a 
misdemeanor under the law and subject to a penalty ; but 
no such construction can be made from the wordings of 
the Decision and Regulation. In case of interference on 
the part of a Government official, the yacht owner should 
demand to be shown the law under which said official is 
acting. 



LAWS FOE OCEA^ NAVIGATION, 



SELECTIONS FROM REVISED INTERNATIONAL RULES 
AND REGULATIONS 

For the navigation of all public and private vessels of the 
United States upon the high seas, and on all coast 
wateks of the United States, except within the harbors, 
lakes, and inland waters. 

DEFINING STEAM AND SAIL VESSELS. 

In the following rules every steamship which is under 
sail and not under steam is to be considered a sailing-ship, 
and every steamship which is under steam, whether under 
sail or not, is to be considered a ship under steam. 

LIGHTS CARKIED FKOM SUNSET TO SUNRISE. 

The lights mentioned in the following articles, and no 
others, shall be carried in all weathers, from sunset to sun- 
rise. 

LIGHTS FOR OCEAN-STEAMERS. 

A sea-going steamship, when under way, shall carry — 
On or in front of the foremast, at a height above the 
hull of not less than twenty feet, and if the breadth of the 
ship exceeds twenty feet, then at a height above the hull 
not less than such breadth, a bright white light, so con- 
structed as to show a uniform and unbroken light over an 
arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, so fixed 
as to throw the light ten points on each side of the ship, 



49 

namely, from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on 
either side, and of such a character as to be visible on a 
dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at 
least five miles. 

On the starboard side a green light, so constructed as to 
show a uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the 
horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw 
the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on 
the starboard side, and of such a character as to be visible 
on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of 
at least two miles. 

On the port side a red light, so constructed as to show a 
uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 
ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light 
from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port 
side, and of such a character as to be visible on a dark 
night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two 
miles. 

The said green and red side-lights shall be fitted with 
inboard screens projecting at least three feet forward from 
the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen 
across the bow. 

LIGHTS FOR TOWING-STEAMERS. 

A steamship when towing another ship shall, in addition 
to her side-lights, carry two bright white lights in a verti- 
cal line, one over the other, not less than three feet apart, 
so as to distinguish her from other steamships. Each of 
these lights shall be of the same construction and char- 
acter, and shall be carried in the same position, as the white 
light which other steamships are required to carry. 

LIGHTS ^FOR SAILING- VESSELS. 

A sailing-ship under way or being towed shall carry the 
same lights as are provided for a steamship under way, 
4 



50 

with the exception of the white light, which she shall 
never carry. 

EXCEPTIONAL LIGHTS FOE SMALL VESSELS. 

Whenever, as in the case of small vessels during bad 
weather, the green and red side-lights cannot be fixed, these 
lights shall be kept on deck, lighted, on their respective sides 
of the vessel, ready for use, and shall, on the approach of 
or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides 
in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to 
make them most visible, and so that the green light shall 
not be seen on the port side nor the red light on the star- 
board side. To make the use of these portable lights more 
certain and easy, the lanterns containing them shall each 
be painted outside with the color of the light they respec- 
tively contain, and shall be provided with proper screens. 

LIGHTS FOB STEAM- VESSELS AND SAILING-VESSELS AT 
ANCHOE. 

A ship, whether a steamship or a sailing-ship, when at 
anchor, shall carry, where it can best be seen, but at a 
height not exceeding twenty feet above the hull, a white 
light, in a globular lantern of not less than eight inches in 
diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, 
and unbroken light, visible all round the horizon at a dis- 
tance of at least one mile. 

LIGHTS FOE VESSELS NOT UNDEE COMMAND. 

A ship, whether a steamship or sailing-ship, which from 
any accident is not under command, shall at night carry, 
in the same position as the white light which steamships 
are required to carry, and if a steamship, in place of that 
light, three red lights in globular lanterns, each not less 
than ten inches in diameter, in a vertical line, one over the 
other, not less than three feet apart, and of such a char- 



51 

acter as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmos- 
phere, at a distance of at least two miles, and shall by day 
carry in a vertical line, one over the other, not less than 
three feet apart, in front of but not lower than her fore- 
mast head, three black balls or shapes, each two feet in 
diameter. 

The ships referred to in this article when not making 
any way through the water shall not carry the side-lights, 
but when making way shall carry them. 

The lights and shapes required to be shown by this article 
are to be taken by other ships as signals that the ship show- 
ing them is not under command, and cannot therefore get 
out of the way. 

LIGHTS FOR VESSELS BEING OVERTAKEN. 

A ship which is being overtaken by another shall show 
from her stern to such last-mentioned ship a white light or 
a flare-up light. 

OCEAN SOUND SIGNALS FOR FOG. 

A steamship shall be provided with a steam-whistle or 
other efficient steam sound signals, so placed that the sound 
may not be intercepted by any obstructions, and with an 
efficient fog-horn, to be sounded by a bellows or other 
mechanical means, and also with an efficient bell. (In all 
cases where the regulations require a bell to be used, a 
drum will be substituted on board Turkish vessels.) A 
sailing-ship shall be provided with a similar fog-horn and 
bell. 

In fog, mist, or falling snow, whether by day or night, 
the signals described in this article shall be used as follows, 
that is to say : 

A steamship under way shall make with her steam-whis- 
tle or other steam sound signal, at intervals of not more 
than two minutes, a prolonged blast. 



52 

A sailing-ship under way shall make with her fog-horn, 
at intervals of not more than two minutes, when on the 
starboard tack one blast, when on the port tack two blasts 
in succession, and when with the wind abaft the beam three 
blasts in succession. 

A steamship and a sailing-ship when not under way 
shall, at intervals of not more than two minutes, ring the 
bell. 

SPEED OF SHIPS TO BE MODERATE IN FOG. 

Every ship, whether a sailing-ship or a steamship, shall 
in a fog, mist, or falling snow go at a moderate speed. 

STEERING AND SAILING RULES. 
FOR SAILING-VESSELS. 

When two sailing ships are approaching one another so 
as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out 
of the way of the other, as follows, namely : 

A ship which is running free shall keep out of the way 
of a ship which is close-hauled. 

A ship which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep 
out of the way of a ship which is close-hauled on the star- 
board tack. 

When both are running free, with the wind on different 
sides, the ship which has the wind on the port side shall 
keep out of the way of the other. 

When both are running free, with the wind on the same 
side, the ship which is to windward shall keep out of the 
way of the ship which is to leeward. 

A ship which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way 
of the other ship. 

STEAM- VESSELS MEETING. 

If two ships under steam are meeting end on, or nearly 
end on, so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter 



53 

her course to starboard, so that each may pass on the port 
side of the other. This article only applies to cases where 
ships are meeting end on, or nearly end on, in such a man- 
ner as to involve risk of collision, and does not apply to 
two ships which must, if both keep on their respective 
courses, pass clear of each other. The only cases to which 
it does apply are when each of the two ships is end on, or 
nearly end on, to the other ; in other words, to cases in 
which by day each ship sees the masts of the other in a 
line, or nearly in a line, with her own, and by night to 
cases in which each ship is in such a position as to see both 
the side-lights of the other. It does not apply by day to 
cases in which a ship sees another ahead crossing her own 
course, or by night to cases where the red light of one ship 
is opposed to the red light of the other, or where the green 
light of one ship is opposed to the green light of the other, 
or where a red light without a green light, or a green light 
without a red light, is seen ahead, or where both green and 
red lights are seen anywhere bat ahead. 

TWO STEAMERS CROSSING. 

If two ships under steam are crossing so as to involve 
risk of collision, the ship which has the other on her own 
starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other. 

STEAMSHIPS TO KEEP OUT OF WAY OF SAILING-VESSELS. 

If two ships, one of which is a sailing-ship and the other 
a steamship, are proceeding in such directions as to involve 
risk of collision, the steamship shall keep out of the way 
of the sailing-ship. 

STEAM- VESSEL APPROACHING ANOTHER VESSEL. 

Every steamship, when approaching another ship so as 
to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or stop 
and reverse, if necessary. 



54 

SIGNALS OF STEAMERS SHOWING COURSE. 

In taking any course authorized or required by these 
regulations, a steamship under way may indicate that course 
to any other ship which she has in sight by the following 
signals on her steam -whistle, namely : 

One short blast to mean " I am directing my course to 
starboard." 

Two short blasts to mean " I am directing my course to 
port." 

Three short blasts to mean U I am going full speed 
astern." 

The use of these signals is optional, but if they are used 
the course of the ship must be in accordance with the signal 
made. 

VESSEL OVERTAKING ANOTHER. 

Notwithstanding anything contained in any preceding 
article, every ship, whether a sailing-ship or a steamship, 
overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the over- 
taken ship. 

STEAMER IN NARROW CHANNEL. 

In narrow channels every steamship shall, when it is safe 
and practicable, keep to that side of the fair- way or mid- 
channel which lies on the starboard side of such ship. 

RIGHT OF WAY. 

Where by the above rules one of two ships is to keep 
out of the way, the other shall keep her course. 

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND DANGERS. 

In obeying and construing these rules due regard shall 
be had to all dangers of navigation, and to any special 
circumstances which may render a departure from the 
above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. 



55 

NO SHIP, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TO NEGLECT PROPER 
PRECAUTIONS. 

Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, or the 
owner, or master, or crew thereof, from the consequences 
of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect 
to keep a proper lookout, or of the neglect of any precau- 
tion which may be required by the ordinary practice of 
seamen or by the special circumstances of the case. 

DISTRESS SIGNALS. 

When a ship is in distress and requires assistance from 
other ships or from the shore, the following shall be the 
signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or 
separately — that is to say : 

In the day-time — 

First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 

Second. The International Code signal of distress indi- 
cated by N. C. 

Third. The distant signal, consisting of a square flag, 
having either above or below it a ball, or anything re- 
sembling a ball. 

At night — 

First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 

Second. Flames on the ship (as from a burning tar- 
barrel, oil-barrel, and so forth). 

Third. Rockets or shells, throwing stars of any color or 
description, fired one at a time, at short intervals. 



PILOT-RULES FOR LAKES AND SEA-BOARD— 
INLAND WATERS. 

Rules and regulations for the government of pilots navi- 
gating seas, gulfs, lakes, bays, sounds, or rivers, except 
rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, and their tribu- 
taries. 

LIGHTS FOR INLAND WATERS. 

Steam-vessels (other than ferry-boats and vessels other- 
wise expressly provided for) navigating the bays, lakes, 
rivers, or other inland waters of the United States, shall 
carry the red and green lights, as prescribed for ocean- 
going steamers ; and, in addition thereto, a central range 
of two white lights ; the after light being carried at an 
elevation of at least fifteen feet above the light at the head 
of the vessel. The head-light shall be so constructed as to 
show a good light through twenty points of the compass, 
namely : From right ahead to two points abaft the beam 
on either side of the vessel ; and the after light so as to 
show all around the horizon. 

SIGNALLING COURSE BY THE STEAM- WHISTLE. 

When steamers are approaching each other " head and 
head," or nearly so, it shall be the duty of each steamer to 
pass to the right, or port side of the other ; and the pilot 
of either steamer may be first in determining to pursue 
this course, and thereupon shall give, as a signal of his 
intention, one short and distinct blast of his steam -whistle, 
which the pilot of the other steamer shall answer promptly 
by a similar blast of his steam-whistle, and thereupon such 



57 

steamers shall pass to the right, or port side of each other. 
But if the course of such steamers is so far on the star- 
board of each other as not to be considered by pilots as 
meeting " head and head," or nearly so, the pilot so first 
deciding shall immediately give two short and distinct 
blasts of his steam-whistle, which the pilot of the other 
steamer shall answer promptly by two similar blasts of his 
steam-whistle, and they shall pass to the left, or on the 
starboard side, of each other. 

MISUNDEESTOOD SIGNALS. 

If, when steamers are approaching each other, the pilot 
of either vessel fails to understand the course or intention 
of the other, whether from signals being given or answered 
erroneously, or from other causes, the pilot so in doubt 
shall immediately signify the same by giving several short 
and rapid blasts of the steam- whistle ; and if the vessels 
shall have approached within half a mile of each other, 
both shall be immediately slowed to a speed barely suffi- 
cient for steerage-way until the proper signals are given, 
answered, and understood, or until the vessels shall have 
passed each other. 

SOUND SIGNALS FOE FOG ON INLAND WATEES. 

When steamers are running in a fog or thick weather, it 
shall be the duty of the pilot to cause a long blast of the 
steam-whistle to be sounded at intervals not exceeding one 
minute. 

Steamers, when drifting or at anchor, in the fair way 
of other vessels in a fog or thick weather, shall ring their 
bells at intervals of not more than two minutes. 

STEAMEE NEAEING A BEND. 

Whenever a steamer is nearing a short bend or curve in 
the channel, where, from the height of the banks or other 



58 

cause, a steamer approaching from the opposite direction 
cannot be seen for a distance of half a mile, the pilot of 
such steamer, when he shall have arrived within half a mile 
of such curve <5r bend, shall give a signal by one long blast 
of the steam -whistle, which signal shall be answered by a 
similar blast, given by the pilot of any approaching steamer 
that may be within hearing. Should such signal be so 
answered by a steamer upon the farther side of such bend, 
then the usual signals for meeting and passing shall imme- 
diately be given and answered ; but if the first alarm signal 
of such pilot be not answered, he is to consider the channel 
clear and govern himself accordingly. 

PILOTS MUST SIGNAL ONE ANOTHER. 

The signals, by the blowing of the steam-whistle, shall 
be given and answered by pilots, in compliance with these 
rules, not only when meeting " head and head," or nearly 
so, but at all times when passing or meeting at a distance 
within half a mile of each other, and whether passing to 
the starboard or port. 

PILOT RULES FOR HELL GATE. 

When two steamers are approaching the narrows known 
as " Hell Gate," on the East River at New York, side by 
side, or nearly so, running in the same direction, the 
steamer on the right or starboard hand of the other (when 
approaching from the west), when they shall have arrived 
abreast of the north end of Blackwell's Island, shall have 
the right of way, and the steamer on the left or port side 
shall check her way and drop astern. In like case when 
two steamers are approaching from the east, and are abreast 
at Negro Point, the steamer on the right or starboard hand 
of the other shall have the right of way, and shall proceed 
on her course without interference, and the steamer on the 
port side of the other shall keep at a safe distance astern 



59 

(not less than three lengths) until both steamers have passed 
through the difficult channel. 

PILOT SIGNALLING STEAMER HOLDING SAME COURSE. 

When steamers are running in the same direction, and 
the pilot of the steamer which is astern shall desire to pass 
on the right or starboard hand of the steamer ahead, he 
shall give one short blast of the steam-whistle as a signal of 
such desire and intention, and shall put his helm to port ; 
and the pilot of the steamer ahead shall answer by the same 
signal, or, if he prefer to keep on his course, he shall give 
two short and distinct blasts of the steam-whistle, and the 
boat wishing to pass must govern herself accordingly, but 
the boat ahead shall in no case attempt to cross her bow or 
crowd upon her course. 

MODIFICATION OF PILOT RULES. 

!N\ B. — The foregoing rules are to be complied with in 
all cases except when steamers are navigating in a crowded 
channel or in the vicinity of wharves ; under such circum- 
stances steamers must be run and managed with great 
caution, sounding the whistle as may be necessary, to guard 
against collision or other accidents. 

Sec. 4233, Revised Statutes. — Rule twenty -four. In 
construing and obeying these rules, due regard must be 
had to all dangers of navigation, and to any special circum- 
stances which may exist in any particular case rendering a 
departure from them necessary in order to avoid imme- 
diate danger. 

DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN LAKES AND SEABOARD AND 
WESTERN RIVERS. 

The line dividing jurisdiction between the pilot rules on 
Western rivers and lakes and seaboard at New Orleans 
shall be the lower limits of the city. 



PILOT RULES FOR WESTERN RIVERS. 

Rules and regulations for the government of pilots of 
steamers navigating the rivers flowing into the Gulf of 
Mexico and their tributaries. 

LIGHTS FOR WESTERN RIVERS. 

For steamers navigating waters flowing into the Gulf of 
Mexico and the Red River of the North, a red light on the 
outboard side of the port smoke-pipe and a green light on 
the outboard side of the starboard smoke-pipe, these lights 
to show both forward and abeam on their respective sides. 



For steamers towing other vessels, the colored lights will 
be the same as prescribed for ocean-steamers ; and two 
white mast-lights shall be also carried vertically, to distin- 
guish them from other steamers, the white lights to show 
through twenty points of the compass, viz., from right 
ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side of the 
vessel ; white lights shall also be placed on the extreme 
sides of the tow on either hand, and also on the extreme 
after part of the same. 



Rule 9. All barges in tow of steamers between sunset 
and sunrise shall have their signal-lights, as required by 
law, placed in a suitable manner on the starboard bow of 
the starboard barge and on port bow of the port barge, 
which lights shall not be less than ten feet above the sur- 
face of the water. 



61 

Eule 11. A bright white light, not exceeding twenty 
feet above the hull, shall be exhibited by all steamers when 
at anchor between sunset and sunrise, in a globular lantern 
of eight inches in diameter, so placed as to throw a good 
light all around the horizon. 

DESCENDING STEAMER HAS EIGHT OF WAY. 

When steamers are approaching each other from opposite 
directions, the signals for passing shall be one blast of the 
steam-whistle to pass to the right, and two blasts of the 
steam- whistle to pass to the left. The pilot on the ascend- 
ing steamer shall be the first to indicate the side on which 
he desires to pass ; but if the pilot on the descending 
steamer shall deem it dangerous to take the side indicated 
by the pilot of the ascending steamer, he shall at once indi- 
cate with his steam-whistle the side on which he desires 
to pass, and the pilot on the ascending steamer shall gov- 
ern himself accordingly, the descending steamer being 
deemed to have the right of way. But in no case shall 
pilots on steamers attempt to pass each other until there 
has been a thorough understanding as to the side each 
steamer shall take. The signals for passing must be made, 
answered, and understood before the steamers have arrived 
at a distance of eight hundred yards of each other. 

DANGER SIGNALS. 

If from any cause the signals for passing are not made 
at the proper time, or should the signals be given and not 
promptly understood, from any cause whatever, and either 
boat become imperilled thereby, the pilot on either steamer 
may be the first to sound the alarm or danger-signal, which 
shall consist of three or more short blasts of the steam- 
whistle in quick succession. Whenever the danger-signal 
is given the engines of both steamers must be stopped and 
backed until their headway has been fully checked, nor 



62 

shall the engines of either steamer be again started ahead 
until the steamers can safely pass each other. 

ASCENDING BOAT TO BE STOPPED BELOW CHANNEL. 

When two boats are about to enter a narrow channel at 
the same time, the ascending boat shall be stopped below 
such channel until the descending boat shall have passed 
through it ; but should two boats unavoidably meet in such 
channel, then it shall be the duty of the pilot of the ascend- 
ing boat to make the proper signals, and when answered, 
the ascending boat shall lie as close as possible to the side 
of the channel the exchange of signals may have deter- 
mined, as provided by Rule 1, and either stop the engines 
or move them so as only to give the boat steerage-way, and 
the pilot of the descending boat shall cause his boat to be 
worked slowly until he has passed the ascending boat. 

When a steamer is ascending and running close on a bar 
or shore, the pilot shall in no case attempt to cross the river 
when a descending boat shall be so near that it would be 
possible for a collision to ensue therefrom. 

STEAMERS NEARING BEND IN ASCENDING OR DESCENDING. 

When any steamer, whether ascending or descending, is 
nearing a short bend or point where, from any cause, a 
steamer approaching in an opposite direction cannot be 
seen at a distance of six hundred yards, the pilot of such 
steamer, when he shall have arrived within six hundred 
yards of that bend or point, shall give a signal of one long 
sound of his steam -whistle as a notice to any steamer that 
may be approaching ; and should there be any approaching 
steamer within hearing of such signal, it shall be the duty 
of the pilot thereof to answer such signal by one long sound 
of his steam-whistle, when both boats shall be navigated 
with the proper precautions, as required by preceding 
rules. 



63 

FOG SIGNALS FOE WESTEEN EIVEES. 

When a steamer is running in a fog or thick weather, it 
shall be the duty of the pilot to sound his steam- whistle at 
intervals not exceeding one minute. 

SIGNALS TO STEAMEE AHEAD. 

When steamers are running in the same direction, and 
the pilot of the boat astern shall desire to pass either side 
of the boat ahead, he shall give the signal and the pilot of 
the boat ahead shall answer by the same signal, or if he 
prefer to keep on his course he shall make the necessary 
signals, and the boat wishing to pass must govern herself 
accordingly; but the boat ahead shall in no case attempt 
to cross her bow or crowd upon her course. 

STEAMEES LEAVING BEETH. 

When boats are moving from their docks or berths, and 
other boats are liable to pass from any direction toward 
them, they shall give the same signal as in case of boats 
meeting at a bend ; but immediately after clearing the 
berths so as to be fully in sight they shall be governed by 
the rules prescribed. 



NEW EULES FOE THE NAVIGATION OF THE 
HIGH SEAS. 

The following New Rules for the Navigation of the 
High Seas, the outcome of the International Marine Con- 
ference, held in Washington, D. C, during the winter of 
1889-90, were approved by Congress, and signed by the 
President August 19th, 1890. The act will take effect at 
a time to be fixed by the President by proclamation issued 
for that purpose. 

It is believed this proclamation will be issued at such 
date as shall be agreed upon by the countries represented 
at the conference. 

AN ACT TO ADOPT REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COL- 
LISIONS AT SEA. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the United States of America in Congress as- 
sembled, That the following regulations for preventing 
collisions at sea shall be followed by all public and private 
vessels of the United States upon the high seas, and in all 
waters connected therewith, navigable by sea-going vessels. 

PRELIMINARY. 

In the following rules every steam- vessel which is under 
sail and not under steam is to be considered a sailing-vessel, 
and every vessel under steam, whether under sail or not, 
is to be considered a steam-vessel. 



65 

The word " steam- vessel " shall include any vessel pro- 
pelled by machinery. 

A vessel is " under way" within the meaning of these 
rules when she is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, 
or aground. 

The word " visible" in these rules, when applied to 
lights, shall mean visible on a dark night with a clear 
atmosphere. 

LIGHTS TO BE EXHIBITED FKOM SUNSET TO SUNRISE. 

Article 1. The rules concerning lights shall be complied 
with in all weathers from sunset to sunrise, and during 
such time no other lights which may be mistaken for the 
prescribed lights shall be exhibited. 

STEAMER'S MASTHEAD LIGHT. 

Art. 2. A steam-vessel when under way shall carry : 

(a) On or in front of the foremast, or if a vessel without 
a foremast, then in the fore part of the vessel, at a height 
above the hull of not less than twenty feet, and if the 
breadth of the vessel exceeds twenty feet, then at a height 
above the hull not less than such breadth, so, however, 
that the light need not be carried at a greater height above 
the hull than forty feet, a bright white light, so con- 
structed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the 
horizon of twenty points of the compass, so fixed as to 
throw the light ten points on each side of the vessel, 
namely, from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on 
either side, and of such a character as to be visible at a 
distance of at least five miles. 

STEAMER'S SIDE-LIGHTS. 

(b) On the starboard side a green light so constructed as 
to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 

5 



66 

ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light 
from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the star- 
board side, and of such a character as to be visible at a dis- 
tance of at least two miles. 

(c) On the port side a red light so constructed as to show 
an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points 
of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right 
ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side, and 
of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at least 
two miles. 

{d) The said green and red side-lights shall be fitted with 
inboard screens projecting at least three feet forward from 
the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen 
across the bow. 

AN ADDITIONAL WHITE LIGHT MAY BE CARRIED BY 
STEAMERS WHEN UNDER WAY. 

(e) A steam-vessel when under way may carry an ad- 
ditional white light, similar in construction to the light 
mentioned in subdivision (a). These two lights shall be so 
placed in line with the keel that one shall be at least fifteen 
feet higher than the other, and in such a position with 
reference to each other that the lower light shall be for- 
ward of the upper one. The vertical distance between 
these lights shall be less than the horizontal distance. 

STEAMERS TOWING LIGHTS. 

Art. 3. A steam- vessel when towing another vessel shall, 
in addition to her side-lights, carry two bright white lights 
in a vertical line one over the other, not less than six feet 
apart, and when towing more than one vessel shall carry 
an additional bright white light six feet above or below 
such lights, if the length of the tow measuring from the 
stern of the towing vessel to the stern of the last vessel 
towed exceeds six hundred feet. Each of these lights shall 



67 

be of the same construction and character, and shall be 
carried in the same position as the white light mentioned 
in Article 2 (a), excepting the additional light, which may 
be carried at a height of not less than fourteen feet above 
the hall. 

Such steam-vessel may carry a small white light abaft 
the funnel or aftermast for the vessel towed to steer by, 
but such light shall not be visible forward of the beam. 

LIGHTS FOR VESSELS NOT UNDER COMMAND. 

Art. 4 (a). A vessel which from any accident is not 
under command shall carry at the same height as a white 
light mentioned in Article 2 (#), where they can best be 
seen, and if a steam-vessel, in lieu of that light, two red 
lights, in a vertical line one over the other, not less than 
six feet apart, and of such a character as to be visible all 
around the horizon at a distance of at least two miles ; and 
shall by day carry in a vertical line one over the other, not 
less than six feet apart, where they can best be seen, two 
black balls or shapes, each two feet in diameter. 

VESSELS LAYING TELEGRAPH CABLES. 

(b) A vessel employed in laying or in picking up a tele- 
graph cable shall carry in the same position as the white 
light mentioned in Article 2 (a), and if a steam- vessel in 
lieu of that light, three lights in a vertical line one over the 
other, not less than six feet apart. The highest and lowest 
of these lights shall be red, and the middle light shall be 
white, and they shall be of such a character as to be visible 
all around the horizon at a distance of at least two miles. 
By day she shall carry in a vertical line, one over the other, 
not less than six feet apart, where they can best be seen, 
three shapes not less than two feet in diameter, of which 
the highest and lowest shall be globular in shape and red 
in color, and the middle one diamond in shape and white. 



68 

WHEN TO CAEKY SIDE-LIGHTS. 

(c) The vessels referred to in this article, when not mak- 
ing way through the water, shall not carry the side-lights, 
but when making way shall carry them. 

(d) The lights and shapes required to be shown by this 
article are to be taken by other vessels as signals that the 
vessel showing them is not under command and cannot 
therefore get out of the way. 

These signals are not signals of vessels in distress and re- 
quiring assistance. Such signals are contained in Article 
31. 

LIGHTS FOB SAILING-VESSELS UNDEE WAY AND VESSELS 
BEING TOWED. 

Art. 5. A sailing-vessel under way and any vessel being 
towed shall carry the same lights as are prescribed by Arti- 
cle 2 for a steam-vessel under way, with the exception of 
the white lights mentioned therein, which they shall never 
carry. 

POETABLE LIGHTS FOE SMALL VESSELS UNDEE WAY. 

Art. 6. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels under 
way during bad weather, the green and red side lights can- 
not be fixed, these lights shall be kept at hand lighted and 
ready for use ; and shall, on the approach of or to other 
vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient 
time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them 
most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen 
on the port side nor the red light on the starboard side, 
nor, if practicable, more than two points abaft the beam on 
their respective sides. 

To make the use of these portable lights more certain 
and easy, the lanterns containing them shall each be painted 
outside with the color of the light they respectively con- 
tain, and shall be provided with proper screens. 



69 

LIGHTS PRESCRIBED RESPECTIVELY FOR ALL VESSELS 
UNDER FORTY TONS. 

Art. 7. Steam-vessels of less than forty, and vessels 
under oars or sails of less than twenty tons, gross tonnage, 
respectively, when under way, shall not be obliged to carry 
the lights mentioned in Article 2 (a) (b) and (c), but if 
they do not carry them they shall be provided with the 
following lights : 

First. Steam-vessels of less than forty tons shall carry — 

(a). In the fore part of the vessel, or on or in front of 
the funnel, where it can best be seen, and at a height 
above the gunwale of not less than nine feet, a bright white 
light constructed and fixed as prescribed in Article 2 (a), 
and of such a character as to be visible at a distance of at 
least two miles. 

(b) Green and red side-lights constructed and fixed as 
prescribed in Article 2 (b) and (e), and of such a character 
as to be visible at a distance of at least one mile, or a com- 
bined lantern showing a green light and a red light from 
right ahead to two points abaft the beam on their respec- 
tive sides. Such lantern shall be carried not less than 
three feet below the white light. 

Second. Small steamboats, such as are carried by sea- 
going vessels, may carry the white light at a less height 
than nine feet above the gunwale, but it shall be carried 
above the combined lantern mentioned in subdivision 1 (b). 

Third. Vessels under oars or sails, of less than twenty 
tons, shall have ready at hand a lantern with a green glass 
on one side and a red glass on the other, which, on the 
approach of or to other vessels, shall be exhibited in suffi- 
cient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall 
not* be seen on the port side nor the red light on the star- 
board side. 

The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged 
to carry the lights prescribed by Article 4 (a) and Article 
11, last paragraph. 



70 

LIGHTS FOK PILOT- VESSELS. 

Art. 8. Pilot vessels when engaged on their station on 
pilotage duty shall not show the lights required for other 
vessels, but shall carry a white light at the masthead, visible 
all around the horizon, and shall also exhibit a flare-up 
light, or flare-up lights, at short intervals, which shall never 
exceed fifteen minutes. 

On the near approach of or to other vessels they shall 
have their side-lights lighted, ready for use, and shall flash 
or show them at short intervals to indicate the direction in 
which they are heading, but the green light shall not be 
shown on the port side nor the red light on the starboard 
side. 

A pilot-vessel of such a class as to be obliged to go along- 
side of a vessel to put a pilot on board may show the white 
light instead of carrying it at the masthead, and may, in- 
stead of the colored lights above mentioned, have at hand, 
ready for use, a lantern with a green glass on the one side 
and a red glass on the other, to be used as prescribed 
above. 

Pilot- vessels when not engaged on their station on pilot- 
age duty shall carry lights similar to those of other vessels 
of their tonnage. 

LIGHTS FOE FISHING VESSELS. 

Art. 9. Fishing vessels and fishing boats when under 
way and when not required by this article to carry or show 
the lights therein named shall carry or show the lights pre- 
scribed for vessels of their tonnage under way. 

LIGHTS FOR VESSELS FISHING WITH DRIFT NETS. + 

(a) Yessels and boats when fishing with drift nets shall 
exhibit two white lights from any part of the vessel where 
they can best be seen. Such lights shall be placed so that 
the vertical distance between them shall not be less than six 



Tl 

feet, and not more than ten feet, and so that the horizontal 
distance between them, measured in a line with the keel, 
shall be not less than five feet and not more than ten feet. 
The lower of these two lights shall be the more forward, 
and both of them shall be of such a character as to show 
all around the horizon and to be visible at a distance of not 
less than three miles. 

LIGHTS FOR VESSELS ENGAGED IN TRAWLING. 

(b) Vessels when engaged in trawling, by which is 
meant the dragging of an apparatus along the bottom of 
the sea : 

First. If steam-vessels shall carry in the same position 
as the white light mentioned in Article 2 (a) a tricolored 
lantern so constructed and fixed as to show a white light 
from right ahead to two points on each bow, and a green 
light and a red light over an arc of the horizon from two 
points on either bow to two points abaft the beam on the 
starboard and port sides, respectively ; and not less than 
six nor more than twelve feet below the tricolored lantern, 
a white light in a lantern, so constructed as to show a 
clear, uniform, and unbroken light all around the horizon. 

Second. If sailing-vessels of seven tons gross tonnage 
and upward shall carry a white light in a lantern, so con- 
structed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light 
all around the horizon, and shall also be provided with a 
sufficient supply of red pyrotechnic lights, which shall each 
burn for at least thirty seconds, and shall be shown on the 
approach of or to other vessels in sufficient time to prevent 
collision. 

In the Mediterranean Sea the vessels referred to in sub- 
division (b) Second may use a flare-up light in lieu of a 
pyrotechnic light. 

All lights mentioned in subdivision (b) First and Second 
shall be visible at a distance of at least two miles. 



'72 

LIGHTS FOR FISHING VESSELS UNDER SEVEN TONS. 

Third. Sailing-vessels of less than seven tons gross ton- 
nage shall not be obliged to carry the white light mentioned 
in subdivision (b) Second of this article, but if they do not 
carry such light they shall have at hand, ready for use, a 
lantern showing a bright white light, which shall on the 
approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited where it can 
best be seen, in sufficient time to prevent collision ; and 
they shall also show a red pyrotechnic light, as prescribed 
in subdivision (b) Second, or in lieu thereof a flare-up light. 

LIGHTS FOR VESSELS AND BOATS WHEN LINE-FISHING, ETC. 

(c) Vessels and boats when line-fishing with their lines 
out and attached to their lines, and when not at anchor or 
stationary, shall carry the same lights as vessels fishing 
with drift-nets. 

(d) Fishing vessels and fishing boats may at any time use 
a flare-up light in addition to the lights which they are by 
this article required to carry and show. All flare-up lights 
exhibited by a vessel when trawling or fishing with any 
kind of drag-net shall be shown at the after part of the ves- 
sel, excepting that if the vessel is hanging by the stern to 
her fishing gear, they shall be exhibited from the bow. 

(e) Every fishing vessel and every boat when at anchor 
shall exhibit a white light visible all around the horizon at 
a distance of at least one mile. 

(f) If a vessel or boat when fishing becomes stationary 
in consequence of her gear getting fast to a rock or other 
obstruction, she shall show the light and make the fog sig- 
nal prescribed for a vessel at anchor, respectively. (See 
Article 15 [d] [e] and last paragraph.) 

FOG SIGNALS FOR FISHING VESSELS. 

(g) In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain-storms drift- 
net vessels attached to their nets, and vessels when trawl- 



73 

ing, dredging, or fishing with any kind of drag-net, and 
vessels line-fishing with their lines out shall, if of twenty 
tons gross tonnage or upward, respectively, at intervals of 
not more than one minute, make a blast ; if steam- vessels 
with the whistle or siren, and if sailing-vessels with the 
fog-horn, each blast to be followed by ringing the bell. 
(h) Sailing-vessels or boats fishing with nets or lines or 
trawls, when under way, shall in daytime indicate their 
occupation to an approaching vessel by displaying a basket 
or other efficient signal, where it can best be seen. 

The vessels referred to in this article shall not be obliged 
to carry the lights prescribed by Article 4 (a) and Article 
11, last paragraph. 

LIGHT FOR VESSEL BEING OVERTAKEN. 

Art. 10. A vessel which is being overtaken by another 
shall show from her stern to such last-mentioned vessel a 
white light or a flare-up light. 

The white light required to be shown by this article may 
be fixed and carried in a lantern, bat in such case the lan- 
tern shall be so constructed, fitted, and screened that it 
shall throw an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon 
of twelve points of the compass, namely from right aft for 
six points on each side of the vessel, so as to be visible at 
a distance of at least one mile. Such light shall be carried 
as nearly as practicable on the same level as the side-lights. 

LIGHTS FOR VESSELS AT ANCHOR. 

Art. 11. A vessel under one hundred and fifty feet in 
length, when at anchor, shall carry forward, where it can 
best be seen, but at a height not exceeding twenty feet 
above the hull, a white light in a lantern so constructed as 
to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light visible all 
around the horizon at a distance of at least one mile. 

A vessel of one hundred and fifty feet or upward in 



length, when at anchor, shall carry in the forward part of 
the vessel, at a height of not less than twenty and not ex- 
ceeding forty feet above the hull, one such light, and at or 
near the stern of the vessel, and at such a height that it 
shall not be less than fifteen feet lower than the forward 
light, another such light. 

The length of a vessel shall be deemed to be the length 
appearing in her certificate of registry. 

A vessel aground in or near a fair- way shall carry the 
above light or lights and the two red lights prescribed by 
Article 4 (a). 

METHODS TO BE EMPLOYED FOE ATTRACTING ATTENTION. 

Art. 12. Every vessel may, if necessary, in order to 
attract attention, in addition to the lights which she is by 
these rules required to carry, show a flare-up light or use 
any detonating signal that cannot be mistaken for a distress 
signal. 

SPECIAL LIGHTS FOR SQUADRONS AND CONVOYS, AND 
PRIVATE NIGHT SIGNALS. 

Art. 13. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the 
operation of any special rules made by the Government of 
any nation with respect to additional station and signal 
lights for two or more ships of war or for vessels sailing 
under convoy, or with the exhibition of recognition signals 
adopted by ship-owners, which have been authorized by 
their respective governments and duly registered and 
published. 

DAY-TIME SIGNAL FOR STEAM- VESSEL UNDER SAIL ONLY. 

Art. 14. A steam -vessel proceeding under sail only but 
having her funnel up, shall carry in day-time, forward, 
where it can best be seen, one black ball or shape two feet 
in diameter. 



75 

FOG SIGNALS FOE VESSELS UNDEK WAY. 

Art. 15. All signals prescribed by this article for vessels 
under way shall be given : 

1. By " steam-vessels" on the whistle or siren. 

2. By " sailing-vessels and vessels towed" on the fog- 
horn. 

The words " prolonged blast" used in this article shall 
mean a blast of from four to six seconds' duration. 

A steam-vessel shall be provided with an efficient whistle 
or siren, sounded by steam or by some substitute for steam, 
so placed that the sound may not be intercepted by any 
obstruction, and with an efficient fog-horn to be sounded 
by mechanical means, and also with an efficient bell. (In 
all cases where the rules require a bell to be used a drum 
may be substituted on board Turkish vessels, or a gong 
where such articles are used on board small sea-going ves- 
sels.) A sailing-vessel of twenty tons gross tonnage or 
upward shall be provided with a similar fog-horn and bell. 

In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain-storms, whether 
by day or night, the signals described in this article shall 
be used as follows, viz. : 

(a) A steam- vessel having way upon her shall sound, at 
intervals of not more than two minutes, a prolonged blast. 

(b) A steam-vessel under way, but stopped, and having 
no way upon her, shall sound, at intervals of not more 
than two minutes, two prolonged blasts, with an interval 
of about one second between them. 

(c) A sailing-vessel under way shall sound, at intervals 
of not more than one minute, when on the starboard tack 
one blast, when on the port tack two blasts in succession, 
and when with the wind abaft the beam three blasts in 
succession. 

FOG SIGNALS FOR VESSELS AT ANCHOR. 

(d) A vessel when at anchor shall, at intervals of not more 
than one minute, ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. 



■ 76 

(e) A vessel at anchor at sea, when not in ordinary- 
anchorage ground, and when in such a position as to be an 
obstruction to vessels under way, shall sound, if a steam- 
vessel, at intervals of not more than two minutes, two pro- 
longed blasts with her whistle or siren, followed by ringing 
her bell ; or, if a sailing-vessel, at intervals of not more than 
one minute, two blasts with her fog-horn, followed by ring- 
ing her bell. 

FOG SIGNALS FOE VESSELS TOWING AND BEING TOWED. 

(f) A vessel when towing shall, instead of the signals 
prescribed in subdivisions (a) and (c) of this article at in- 
tervals of not more than two minutes, sound three blasts in 
succession — namely, one prolonged blast followed by two 
short blasts. A vessel towed may give this signal and she 
shall not give any other. 

OTHER FOG SIGNALS, ETC. 

(g) A steam-vessel wishing to indicate to another : " The 
way is off my vessel, you may feel your way past me," 
may sound three blasts in succession — namely, short, long, 
short, with intervals of about one second between them. 

(A) A vessel employed in laying or picking up a tele- 
graph cable shall, on hearing the fog signal of an approach- 
ing vessel, sound in answer three prolonged blasts in suc- 
cession. 

(*) A vessel under way, which is unable to get out of the 
way of an approaching vessel through being not under com- 
mand, or unable to manoeuvre as required by these rules, 
shall, on hearing the fog signal of an approaching vessel, 
sound in answer four short blasts in succession. 

Sailing-vessels and boats of less than twenty tons gross 
tonnage shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned 
signals, but if they do not, they shall make some other 



77 

efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than one 
minute. 

SPEED OF VESSELS TO BE MODEKATE IN FOG. 

Art. 16. Every vessel shall, in a fog, mist, falling snow, 
or heavy rain-storms, go at a moderate speed, having careful 
regard to the existing circumstances and conditions. 

A steam-vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, 
the fog signal of a vessel the position of which is not ascer- 
tained, shall, so far as the circumstances of the case admit, 
stop her engines, and then navigate with caution until 
danger of collision is over. 

STEERING AND SAILING RULES FOR SAILING VESSELS. 

Risk of collision can, when circumstances permit, be 
ascertained by carefully watching the compass bearing of 
an approaching vessel. If the bearing does not appreciably 
change, such risk should be deemed to exist. 

Art. 17. When two sailing-vessels are approaching one 
another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall 
keep out of the way of the other as follows — namely : 

(a) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the 
way of a vessel which is close-hauled. 

(b) A vessel which is close-hauled on the port tack shall 
keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled on the 
starboard tack. 

(c) When both are running free, with the wind on differ- 
ent sides, the vessel which has the wind on the port side 
shall keep out of the way of the other. 

(d) When both are running free, with the wind on the 
same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out 
of the way of the vessel which is to leeward. 

(e) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the 
way of the other vessel. 



78 
TWO STEAM-VESSELS MEETING END ON. 

Art. 18. When two steam- vessels are meeting end on, 
or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, each 
shall alter her course to starboard, so that each may pass* on 
the port side of the other. 

This article only applies to cases where vessels are meet- 
ing end on, or nearly end on, in such a manner as to in- 
volve risk of collision, and does not apply to two vessels 
which must, if both keep on their respective courses, pass 
clear of each other. 

The only cases to which it does apply are when each of 
the two vessels is end on, or nearly end on to the other ; 
in other words, to cases in which by day each vessel sees 
the masts of the other in a line, or nearly in a line, with 
her own ; and by night, to cases in which each vessel is in 
such a position as to see both the side-lights of the other. 

It does not apply by day to cases in which a vessel sees 
another ahead crossing her own course ; or by night, to 
cases where the red light of one vessel is opposed to the 
red light of the other, or where the green light of one- ves- 
sel is opposed to the green light of the other, or where a 
red light without a green light, or a green light without a 
red light is seen ahead, or where both green and red lights 
are seen anywhere but ahead. 

TWO STEAM-VESSELS CROSSING. 

Art. 19. When two steam- vessels are crossing, so as to 
involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on 
her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the 
other. 

STEAM-VESSEL AND SAILING-VESSEL MEETING. 

Art. 20. When a steam- vessel and a sailing-vessel are 
proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, 
the steam- vessel shall keep out of the way of the sailing- 
vessel. 



79 

ONE VESSEL TO KEEP OUT OF THE WAY. 

Art. 21. Where by any of these rules one of two ves- 
sels is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her 
course and speed. 

ONE VESSEL TO AVOID CROSSING ANOTHER'S BOW. 

Art. 22. Every vessel which is directed by these rules 
to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, if the cir- 
cumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the 
other. 

STEAM -VESSEL TO SLACKEN SPEED IF NfcCESSARY, ETC. 

Art. 23. Every steam -vessel which is directed by these 
rules to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, on 
approaching her, if necessary, slacken her speed, or stop, 
or reverse. 

VESSEL OVERTAKING ANOTHER. 

Art. 24. Notwithstanding anything contained in these 
rules every vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of 
the way of the overtaken vessel. 

Every vessel coming up with another vessel from any 
direction more than two points abaft her beam — that is, in 
such a position, with reference to the vessel which she is 
overtaking that at night she would be unable to see either 
of that vessel's side-lights, shall be deemed to be an over- 
taking vessel ; and no subsequent alteration of the bearing 
between the two vessels shall make the overtaking vessel a 
crossing vessel within the meaning of these rules, or relieve 
her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel 
until she is finally past and clear. 

As by day the overtaking vessel cannot always know 
with certainty whether she is forward of or abaft this direc- 
tion from the other vessel she should, if in doubt, assume 
that she is an overtaking vessel, and keep out of the way. 



80 

STEAM-VESSELS IN NARROW CHANNELS TO KEEP TO 
STARBOARD. 

Art. 25. In narrow channels every steam-vessel shall, 
when it is safe and practicable, keep to that side of the fair- 
way or mid- channel which lies on the starboard side of such 
vessel. 

SAILING-VESSELS TO KEEP OUT OF THE WAY OF FISHING 
BOATS, ETC. 

Art. 26. Sailing-vessels under way shall keep out of the 
way of sailing-vessels or boats fishing with nets, or lines, 
or trawls. This rule shall not give to any vessel or boat 
engaged in fishing the right of obstructing a fair-way used 
by vessels other than fishing vessels or boats. 

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES RENDERING DEPARTURE FROM 
RULES NECESSARY. 

Art. 27. In obeying and construing these rules due re- 
gard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and col- 
lision, and to any special circumstances which may render 
a departure from the above rules necessary in order to 
avoid immediate danger. 

SOUND SIGNALS FOR VESSELS IN SIGHT OF ONE ANOTHER. 

Art. 28. The words " short blast" used in this article 
shall mean a blast of about one second duration. 

When vessels are in sight of one another, a steam- vessel 
under way, in taking any course authorized or required by 
these rules, shall indicate that course by the following sig- 
nals on her whistle or siren — namely . 

One short blast to mean — " 1 am directing my course to 
starboard" 

Two short blasts to mean — " I am directing my course 
to port. " 



81 

, Three short blasts to mean — " My engines are going at 
full speed astern. ' ' 



NO VESSEL, UNDER ANY CIECUMSTANCES, TO NEGLECT 
PROPER PRECAUTIONS. 

Art. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ves- 
sel, or the owner, or master, or crew thereof, from the con- 
sequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of 
any neglect to keep a proper look-out, or of any neglect of 
any precaution which may be required by the ordinary 
practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the 
case. 

RULES MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITY TO GOVERN THE 
NAVIGATION OF HARBORS AND INLAND WATERS. 

Art. 30. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the 
operation of a special rule, duly made by local authority, 
relative to the navigation of any harbor, river, or inland 
waters. 

DISTRESS SIGNALS. 

Art. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires assist- 
ance from other vessels or from the shore, the following 
shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either 
together or separately — namely : 

In the Day-time. 

First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 

Second. The International Code Signal of distress indi- 
cated by N. C. 

Third. The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, 
having either above or below it a ball or anything resem- 
bling a ball. 

Fourth. Rockets or shells as prescribed below for use at 
night. 



82 

Fifth. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal 
apparatus. 

In the Night-time. 

First. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute. 

Second. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar- 
barrel, oil-barrel, and so forth). 

Third. Kockets or shells, bursting in the air with a loud 
report and throwing stars of any color or description, fired 
one at a time at short intervals. 

Fourth. A continuous sounding with any fog- signal ap- 
paratus. 

CONFLICTING LAWS EEPEALED. 

Sec. 2. That all laws or parts of laws inconsistent with 
the foregoing regulations for preventing collisions at sea, 
for the navigation of all public and private vessels of the 
United States upon the high seas, and in all waters con- 
nected therewith navigable by sea-going vessels, are hereby 
repealed. 

DATE UPON WHICH ACT IS TO TAKE EFFECT, 

Sec. 3. That this act shall take effect at a time to be 
fixed by the President by proclamation issued for that pur- 
pose. 



LAW IN REGARD TO COLLISION AT SEA. 

EACH VESSEL SHALL STAND BY. 

The following act was passed by Congress and signed 
by the President, September 4, 1890. It will take effect 
at a time to be fixed by the President by proclamation 
issued for that purpose. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represent- 
atives of the United States of America in Congress as 
sembled, That in every case of collision between two vessels 
it shall be the duty of the master or person in charge of 
each vessel, if and so far as he can do so without serious 
danger to his own vessel, crew, and passengers (if any), to 
stay by the other vessel until he has ascertained that she 
has no need of further assistance, and to render to the 
other vessel, her master, crew, and passengers (if any) such 
assistance as may be practicable and as may be necessary in 
order to save them from any danger caused by the collision, 
and also to give to the master or person in charge of the 
other vessel the name of his own vessel and her port of 
registry, or the port or place to which she belongs, and 
also the name of the ports and places from which and to 
which she is bound. If he fails so to do, and no reasonable 
cause for such failure is shown, the collision shall, in the 
absence of proof to the contrary, be deemed to have been 
caused by his wrongful act, neglect, or default. 

Sec. 2. That every master or person in charge of a 
United States vessel who fails, without reasonable cause, 
to render such assistance or give such information as afore- 
said shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be 
liable to a penalty of one thousand dollars, or imprison- 



84 

ment for a term not exceeding two years ; and for the 
above sum the vessel shall be liable and maybe seized and 
proceeded against by process in any district court of the 
United States by any person ; one-half such sum to be pay- 
able to the informer and the other half to the United 
States. 

Sec. 3. That this act shall take effect at a time to be 
fixed by the President by proclamation issued for that 
purpose. 



Published October, 1890, by JOHN BLISS & CO. 



HAND-BOOK 



D. S, Local Marine Board Examination 



MASTEES AND MATES 



OCEAN GOING STEAMSHIPS. 



BY} 

CAPTAIN HOWARD PATTERSON. 



CONTENTS. 

Names of Cities where Licenses may be Obtained, 5 

Form of Masters' Examination Paper, 7 

Form of Mates' Examination Paper, . 10 

Application Form for Masters and Mates, ...,,.. 12 

Form of "Color-blind" Order and Certificate, 13 

Qualifications Necessary to Obtain a License, 14 

Course to be Pursued by Candidates, 14 

Masters' and Mates' Examination Questions Answered, ... 17 

Oral Examination Concerning Stkamship Laws, 45 

Oral Examination Covering the Rules of the Road, .... 46 

Oral Examination in Reference to Collisions, 49 

Oral Examination Concerning Stowage of Cargo, 50 

Oral Examination Dealing with the International Code of Signals, . 51 

Life Saving Service, 54 

The Use of Oil During Ocean Storms, 60 

New Rules for the Navigation of the. High Seas, Presckibkd by the 

International Marine Conference, 64 

Law in Regard to Collision at Sea, 83 

For sale by the Nautical trade yenerally, or will be sent by mail, 
on receipt of price, $2.00. 









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